Vision dominates audition in adults but not children: A meta-analysis of the Colavita effect

Hirst, Rebecca J.; Cragg, Lucy; Allen, Harriet A.

Abstract

The Colavita effect occurs when participants respond only to the visual element of an audio-visual stimulus. This visual dominance effect is proposed to arise from asymmetric facilitation and inhibition between modalities. It has also been proposed that, unlike adults, children appear predisposed to auditory information. We provide the first quantitative synthesis of studies exploring the Colavita effect, combining data from 70 experiments across 14 studies. A mixed-meta-regression model was applied to assess whether the Colavita effect is influenced by methodological factors and age group tested. Studies reporting response time data were used to test for the presence of asymmetrical facilitation between modalities. Studies with adult participants yielded a medium, approaching large, effect size. Studies exploring the Colavita effect in children yielded no Colavita effect. Across adult and child studies, no methodological factors influenced the effect. Contrary to asymmetrical facilitation, response time data suggested a general slowing under bimodal conditions. These findings suggest that whilst vision dominates in adults, this effect is absent in childhood.

Citation

Hirst, R. J., Cragg, L., & Allen, H. A. (2018). Vision dominates audition in adults but not children: A meta-analysis of the Colavita effect. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 94, 286-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 22, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jul 25, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 8, 2018
• Journal: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
• Print ISSN: 0149-7634
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-7528
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 94
• Pages: 286-301
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.012
• Keywords: Colavita Effect; Sensory Dominance; Visual dominance;; Meta-analysis; Development
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/947532
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763417307674
• Contract Date: Oct 8, 2018