Recalibration of time to contact

In order to elucidate the mechanism for predicting timing of contact, we performed an investigation of the adaptation process for shifts in the timing of visual and tactile stimuli. In our experiments, the visual stimulus was a virtual ball falling at 9.8 m/s2 for any tactile stimulus. Tactile stimuli were shifted by −60, 0 and +60 ms, relative to the visual stimulus. Results showed that the subjects were not aware of the timing shifts, but still changed the timing of their tactile responses. This adaptation was also found to cause a shift in the subjects’ judgment of visuotactile simultaneity by approximately 60 ms.

► An adaptation process for shifts in the timing of visual and tactile stimuli was investigated.
► Results showed that the subjects were not aware of the timing shifts, but still changed the timing of their tactile responses.
► This adaptation was also found to cause a shift in the subjects’ judgment of visuotactile simultaneity.