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Abstract

Repeated presentations of asynchronous audiovisual signals recalibrate the point of subjective simultaneity. It is not clear whether this effect is the result of an adaptation mechanism specific to the audiovisual modality pair or whether it is due to a mechanism common to all modalities. Only in the latter case we expect that repeated asynchronous audiovisual information influences perceived simultaneity in other modality pairs (audiotactile or visuotactile).
We presented a series of asynchronous audiovisual signals to the participants (SOA: 200ms, -200ms) and then estimated the point of subjective simultaneity for three modality pairs (audiovisual, audiotactile, visuotactile).
Consistent with previous research, perceived simultaneity in the audiovisual modality pair changed for the two SOAs. Subjective simultaneity shifted also in the audiotactile modality pair. Hence, we conclude that the three tested modalities share a common adaptation mechanism. Moreover, since the visuotactile modality pair was not significantly affected by the manipulation, audiovisual adaptation is likely the result of a phenomenal shift of the auditory events in time.