Repeated but not incremental training enhances cross-modal recalibration

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Sensory Perception

Background:

• Sensory representations are dynamically updated through experience.
• The ventriloquism aftereffect demonstrates recalibration of auditory spatial perception following audiovisual stimuli with spatial disparity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if repeated audiovisual training over multiple sessions enhances recalibration in the ventriloquism aftereffect.
• To compare the effects of incremental versus constant audiovisual spatial disparity training on recalibration.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of participants (n=16 each) underwent 3 days of audiovisual training.
• One group received incremental training (increasing disparity), while the other received constant training (maximum disparity).
• The ventriloquism aftereffect was measured within and across sessions.

Main Results:

• Both incremental and constant training produced significant ventriloquism aftereffects within sessions.
• The constant training group exhibited a larger final ventriloquism aftereffect compared to the incremental group.
• Recalibration effects showed consolidation between sessions, contradicting assumptions of rapid overwriting by natural stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Repeated audiovisual training, particularly with consistent spatial disparity, effectively enhances and consolidates recalibration.
• Cross-modal recalibration effects are retained across sessions, indicating robust learning.
• These findings challenge the notion that natural sensory experiences immediately erase laboratory-induced recalibration.