Cite as:
Smithson H E, Stockman A, 2007, "Flicker - clicker: Matching the frequency and phase of visual and auditory stimuli" Perception 36 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Flicker - clicker: Matching the frequency and phase of visual and auditory stimuli

H E Smithson, A Stockman

Cross-modality matching between visual flicker and auditory 'clicker' can be used to investigate the nature of stimulus encoding at central sites where visual and auditory signals interact. At frequencies below ca 2 Hz, flicker and clicker can be reliably matched in phase and in frequency. Between ca 2 to 3.5 Hz, reliable phase matches cannot be made, but residual phase-dependent changes in perceived synchrony suggest that some phase information is retained. Between ca 3.5 and 12 Hz (depending on the visual pathway) the stimuli can be accurately matched in frequency, but not in phase. Above ca 12 Hz, frequency matching fails and the visual flicker rate is consistently underestimated. Veridical cross-modality phase matching suggests that visual flicker at low frequencies is encoded by a moment-by-moment variation of the neural signal that propagates to central sites. However, at frequencies above 3.5 Hz, only rate information survives, and above 12 Hz, even this information is unavailable. Loss of information about temporal frequency and phase imposes limits on the processing of visual stimuli that can be accomplished centrally.

[Supported by The Wellcome Trust.]

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