Cross-modal magnitude matching as a precursor of multi-modal speech perception

Abstract

Four- to ten-month-old infants (n=58) were examined on their ability to match magnitude across modalities. Their looking behaviour was recorded as they were presented with an intensity modulated auditory stimulus and three possible visual matches. The mean looking times towards a visual target (size envelope matching intensity envelope of the auditory stimulus) and a non-target were calculated. Fivemonth-olds and seven- to ten-month-olds show a significant preference looking towards the target, as do an adult control group. Four- and six-month-olds do not.