The Role of Visuomotor Regulation Processes on Perceived Audiovisual Events by Gerome Aleandro Manson A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements

The Role of Visuomotor Regulation Processes on Perceived Audiovisual Events Gerome Aleandro Manson Master of Science Graduate Department of Exercise Sciences University of Toronto 2013 Recent evidence suggests audiovisual perception changes as one engages in action. Specifically, if an audiovisual illusion comprised of 2 flashes and 1 beep is presented during the high velocity portion of upperlimb movements, the influence of the auditory stimuli is subdued. The goal of this thesis was to examine if visuomotor regulation processes that rely on information obtained when the limb is traveling at a high velocity could explain this perceptual modulation. In the present study, to control for engagement in visuomotor regulation processes, vision of the environment was manipulated. In conditions without vision of the environment, participants did not show the noted modulation of the audiovisual illusion. Also, analysis of the movement trajectories and endpoint precision revealed that movements without vision were less controlled than movements performed with vision. These results suggest that engagement in visuomotor regulation processes can influence perception of certain audiovisual events during goal-directed action.