Perceptual training narrows the temporal binding window of audiovisual integration in both younger and older adults

David P. McGovern, Siofra Burns, Rebecca J. Hirst, Fiona N. Newell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that multisensory processing changes with advancing age - usually in the form of an enlarged temporal binding window - with some studies linking these multisensory changes to negative clinical outcomes. Perceptual training regimes represent a promising means for enhancing the precision of multisensory integration in ageing; however, to date, the vast majority of studies examining the efficacy of multisensory perceptual learning have focused solely on healthy young adults. Here, we measured the temporal binding windows of younger and older participants before and after training on an audiovisual temporal discrimination task to assess (i) how perceptual training affected the shape of the temporal binding window and (ii) whether training effects were similar in both age groups. Our results replicated previous findings of an enlarged temporal binding window in older adults, as well as providing further evidence that both younger and older participants can improve the precision of their audiovisual timing estimation via perceptual training. We also show that this training protocol led to a narrowing of the temporal binding window associated with the sound-induced flash illusion in both age groups indicating a general refinement of audiovisual integration. However, while younger adults also displayed a general reduction in crossmodal interactions following training, this effect was not observed in the older adult group. Together, our results suggest that perceptual training narrows the temporal binding window of audiovisual integration in both younger and older adults but has less of an impact on prior expectations regarding the source of audiovisual signals in older adults.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number108309
JournalNeuropsychologia
Volume173
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 13 2022

Keywords

  • Audiovisual integration
  • Multisensory integration
  • Perceptual learning
  • Perceptual training
  • Sound-induced flash illusion
  • Temporal binding window

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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