title: Multi- and unisensory visual flash illusions.
abstract: The role of stimulus structure in multisensory and unisensory interactions was examined. When a flash (17 ms) was accompanied by multiple tones (each 7 ms, SOA < or =100 ms) multiple flashes were reported, and this effect has been suggested to reflect the role of stimulus continuity in multisensory interactions. In experiments 1 and 2 we examined if stimulus continuity would affect concurrently presented stimuli. When a relatively longer flash (317 ms) was accompanied by multiple tones (each 7 ms), observers reported perceiving multiple flashes. In experiment 3 we tested whether a flash presented near fixation would induce an illusory flash further in the periphery. One flash (17 ms) presented 5 degrees below fixation was reported as multiple flashes if presented with two flashes (each 17 ms, SOA =100 ms) 2 degrees above fixation. The extent to which these data support a phenomenological continuity principle and whether this principle applies to unisensory perception is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298920, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA. j.r.courtney@tcu.edu
authors.forename: Jon R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Motes
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hubbard
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D014796:Visual Perception