Cross-Modal Modulation Masking: A Psychophysical and EEG Investigation of Simultaneous Acoustic and Vibrotactile Amplitude Modulation.
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1
University of Newcastle, Australia
Aims: Modulation masking refers to a disruption in the ability to detect amplitude modulation (AM) in sound in the presence of an auditory masker with a similar temporal pattern. Previously, we have shown that multisensory presentations of acoustic and vibrotactile AM stimuli increase auditory and vibrotactile AM detection thresholds, suggesting a cross-modal modulation masking effect. Prior psychoacoustic research suggests that this masking effect is dependent on the phase of the AM masker. This study aimed to determine whether cross-modal phase differences for simultaneously presented acoustic and vibrotactile AM stimuli increase AM detection thresholds and whether this is reflected in the steady-state response (SSR) elicited by the same multisensory stimulus combinations. Method: A 2I-3AFC psychophysical procedure was used to estimate AM detection thresholds for auditory and vibrotactile stimuli at two AM rates (27 and 40 Hz) and three cross-modal phase conditions: None (AM stimulation in the target modality only); Same (AM in both modalities /no cross-modal phase difference); Different (AM stimulation in both modalities/180˚ phase difference). In a separate EEG session SSR activity was measured to the same stimulus combinations. Results: Vibrotactile AM thresholds significantly varied according to Phase F(2,28)= 4.81,p = .02. Thresholds for the Same condition were higher relative to None F(1,14) = 8.06, p =.01. Differences between None and Different were non-significant. The influence of Phase on auditory 27 and 40 Hz SSR activity significantly varied according to AM rate F(2,16) = 8.65, p =.003, F(2,16) = 6.43, p=.01, with greater increases in activity at the EEG frequency corresponding to the AM rate. Conclusions: The increased sensitivity to vibrotactile AM stimuli resulting from a cross-modal phase difference suggests a release from masking and provides further evidence of cross-modal modulation masking. Cross-modal AM stimulation increases auditory SSR activity at the frequency of stimulation but has no effect on vibrotactile SSR activity which suggests a dissociation between SSR activity and AM detection.
Keywords:
amplitude modulation,
auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs),
vibrotactile steady-state responses,
cross-modal modulation masking,
temporal processing
Conference:
ASP2013 - 23rd Annual meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Wollongong, Australia, 20 Nov - 22 Nov, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Perception
Citation:
Timora
JR and
Budd
TW
(2013). Cross-Modal Modulation Masking: A Psychophysical and EEG Investigation of Simultaneous Acoustic and Vibrotactile Amplitude Modulation..
Conference Abstract:
ASP2013 - 23rd Annual meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.213.00006
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Received:
31 Oct 2013;
Published Online:
05 Nov 2013.
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Correspondence:
Mr. Justin R Timora, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, justin.timora@uon.edu.au