Visual Influence on Auditory Perception

Abstract

Auditory behavior, perception, and cognition are all shaped by information from other sensory systems. The research examining this multisensory view of auditory function is rapidly expanding and has demonstrated numerous interactions between hearing and the other senses at levels of analysis ranging from the single neuron to neuroimaging in human clinical populations. A great deal of evidence now suggests that areas of the brain traditionally considered auditory can be strongly influenced by information from other senses. This chapter highlights the multisensory world from an auditory perspective, in particular, focusing on the intersection of auditory and visual processing that has a profound impact on communication in everyday social settings. It is followed by an introduction of the chapters that make up this volume, which provide contemporary and comprehensive discussions on an array of concepts related to the behavioral, perceptual, and physiological aspects of audiovisual processing.