Older age results in difficulties separating auditory and visual signals in time

Abstract

Previous research provides conflicting evidence regarding whether older adults have altered tolerance to timing differences between auditory and visual events. We examine the potential impact of age-related unisensory decline on audiovisual synchrony perception. Fifteen younger (21-32 years) and 13 older (60-72 years) adults participated. To assess unisensory sensitivity, visual Gabor contrast detection thresholds and auditory masked tone pip detection thresholds were measured. Four multisensory conditions were then tested: suprathreshold and near-threshold stimuli (based on individual unisensory psychometric functions), each tested with a masked tone pip stimuli at 0.5 and 4 kHz sound frequ..