Visuo-tactile binding in mirror-induced illusory space
Poster Presentation

Vanessa Harrar
Psychology, York University

Aliza Sturm
Psychology, York University

Laurence R. Harris

     Abstract ID Number: 27
     Full text: Not available
     Last modified: March 4, 2007
     Presentation date: 07/05/2007 10:00 AM in Quad Maclauren Hall
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
The temporal perception of stimuli changes depending on their relative spatial location. We compared the effect of actual and illusory spatial separation between components of a bimodal stimulus pair on perceived timing. Subjects were presented with light/touch stimulus pairs with various onset asynchronies and were asked to make temporal order judgments (TOJs) and simultaneity judgments. Using a mirror, we manipulated the perceived spatial location of the stimuli. The left hand’s mirror reflection appeared as an illusory right hand that could be either congruent or incongruent with the right hand’s true location. The just noticeable differences of the TOJs were significantly smaller than for simultaneity judgments: paradoxically the TOJs of stimuli could sometimes be accurate even when the stimuli were perceived as simultaneous. While TOJs were affected by the separation of the stimuli in space, simultaneity judgments depended on whether the stimuli were presented within a particular spatial integration window, suggesting at least two temporal coding mechanisms.