Abstract
Although vision is considered the preferred modality for spatial information, researchers have shown that an auditory stimulus can improve detection of brief visual stimuli. The present study sought to determine if a spatially neutral auditory stimulus also improves performance of rapid aiming movements to brief visual stimuli. Healthy right-handed adults (N=13) performed aiming movements to the perceived location of a light emitting diode (LED) located behind a semi-opaque screen. In one condition the LED appeared in isolation for 25, 50, 100, or 200 ms. In a second condition a temporally coincident, but spatially neutral, auditory stimulus was presented. Presence of the auditory stimulus was blocked and counterbalanced across participants and stimulus duration was randomized. Movements were recorded using a 3D motion analysis system (300Hz) and analyzed using a 2 condition by 4 duration repeated measures ANOVA. Analysis revealed that reaction times were significantly shorter when visual and auditory stimuli were concurrent. Greater spatial variability was exhibited at peak deceleration and final end location when the stimulus duration was 50 ms, regardless of the presence of an auditory stimulus. Therefore, differences in online control were evident, however, the predicted benefit of an auditory stimulus was not found. Future studies will examine the impact of spatially meaningful auditory stimuli on movement control.Acknowledgments: This research was funded by the University of Manitoba, the Manitoba Health Research Council, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada