Cross-modality temporal resolution for auditory, vibrotactile, and visual stimuli

Cross‐modality temporal resolution was measured using a procedure in which subjects adjusted the temporal asynchrony ΔT between a pair of stimuli to match that of a standard pair. The stimulus pairs were click‐tap, click‐flash, or tap‐flash with values of ΔT betweel 0 and ± 120 ms. Also, judgments were obtained for within‐modality stimulus pairs. The results indicate more precise temporal resolution (e.g., more reliable judgments) for click‐tap pairs than for either click‐flash or tap‐flash pairs. Matches made using click‐tap pairs are also more accurate (e.g., have smaller constant errors). Within‐modality stimulus pairs are resolved more precisely than cross‐modality pairs. However, the poorest within‐modality resolution, found for flash‐flash pairs, approaches that seen for click‐tap pairs. These results are compared to the findings of Hirsh and Sherrick [J. Exp. Psychol. 61, 423–432 (1961)], who reported that the precision of order labeling is nearly invariant for various within‐modality and cross‐mod...