Perception of auditory-visual temporal synchrony in human infants

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol-Hum Percep Perf. 1996; 22: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 1094-1106.

Abstract: Using a habituation/test procedure, the author investigated adults' and infants' perception of auditory-visual temporal synchrony. Participants were familiarized with a bouncing green disk and a sound that occurred each time the disk bounced. Then, they were given a series of asynchrony test trials where the sound occurred either before or after the disk bounced. The magnitude of the auditory-visual temporal asynchrony threshold differed markedly in adults and infants. The threshold for the detection of asynchrony created by a sound preceding a visible event was 65 ms in adults and 350 ms in infants and for the detection of asynchrony created by a sound following a visible event was 112 ms in adults and 450 ms in infants. Also, infants did not respond to asynchronies that exceeded intervals that yielded reliable discrimination. infants' perception of auditory-visual temporal unity is guided by a synchrony and an asynchrony window, both of which become narrower in development.

Note: Article DJ Lewkowicz, New York State Inst, Basic Res Dev Disabil, 1050 Forest Hill Rd, Staten Isl, NY 10314 USA

Keyword(s): 4-MONTH-OLD INFANTS; BISENSORY RESPONSE; DISCREPANCY; STIMULUS; EQUIVALENCE; EVENTS

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