About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Sound and Vision Work in Close Partnership

by Kathy Jones on December 11, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Font : A-A+

 Sound and Vision Work in Close Partnership

Our senses of sight and hearing work closely together, says a new study.

In the study of how one sense can affect another, Ladan Shams, a UCLA associate professor of psychology and her colleagues showed 63 participants a large number of dots on a screen in two separate phases, with a break between the phases.

Advertisement

In one phase, the dots moved around randomly; in the other, some of the dots moved together from right to left. In both phases, the dots were accompanied by sound.

Participants were divided into three groups. One group heard sound moving from right to left as the dots moved from right to left, and they heard sound that remained stationary during the random phase.
Advertisement

A second group heard the right-to-left sound during both phases. And a third group heard sound moving in the opposite direction - from left to right - during both phases. Then, each participant experienced trials in all three conditions.

As Shams expected, the participants were best able to identify the phase in which the dots moved horizontally when the sound moved in the same direction as the dots but remained stationary during the random phase.

The researchers found that the sound that moved in the opposite direction neither enhanced nor worsened the participants' visual perception.

Surprisingly, the sound that travelled leftward both when the dots moved leftward and when the dots moved randomly - that is, sound that provided no useful information for choosing between the two phases - also helped people correctly choose the phase with the horizontal motion.

"This study shows that at least in regards to perception of moving objects, hearing and sight are deeply intertwined, to the degree that even when sound is completely irrelevant to the task, it still influences the way we see the world," said Shams, senior author of the study.

The study appeared in the December issue of Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science.

Source: ANI
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Research News

What Are the Effects of Smoking on Quality of Life?
Tobacco smoke contains toxic chemicals which damage lungs, weaken the immune system and cause tuberculosis.
 Brain Shape Controls Our Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviour
Identifying an unappreciated relationship between brain shape and activity overturns the century-old paradigm emphasizing the importance of complex brain connectivity.
Eight Threats to Black Adult's Longevity
Decoding the eight factors affecting Black adults' life expectancy.
Beyond the Campus: Contrasting Realities Revealed!
Sobering truth about foot travel in the United States emerges from international statistics, highlighting the prevalence of walking on the Blacksburg campus.
Astounding Link Between Darwin's Theory and Synaptic Plasticity — Discovered!
Unveiling a hidden mechanism, proteins within brain cells exhibit newfound abilities at synapses, reinforcing Darwin's theory of adaptation and diversity in the natural world.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Sound and Vision Work in Close Partnership Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests