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Cited by 113Multisensory perception and integrationTactile and Sensory InteractionsAction Observation and Synchronization

The race that precedes coactivation: development of multisensory facilitation in children

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Barutchu, Ayla, Crewther, David P, Crewther, Sheila G.·2009·Developmental Science
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2008.00782.x
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Abstract

Rationale: The facilitating effect of multisensory integration on motor responses in adults is much larger than predicted by race‐models and is in accordance with the idea of coactivation. However, the development of multisensory facilitation of endogenously driven motor processes and its relationship to the development of complex cognitive skills in school‐age children is largely unexplored. Method: Twenty adults and 95 children where allocated into six age groups: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10–11 and adults. Participants’ motor reaction times (MRTs) and accuracy in response to the detection of auditory, visual and audiovisual stimuli were recorded. Children's reading accuracy and nonverbal IQ were also assessed. Results: In general, MRTs of children were significantly slower with greater variability than those of adults. Although the average level of multisensory facilitation was similar for all age groups, mean cumulative density functions (CDFs) showed that multisensory facilitation in 6 and 10–11‐year‐olds is within the predictive limits of race‐models. Where coactivation was seen in the CDF of individual children it was not as strong or as consistent as that in adults. The degree of multisensory facilitation did not correlate with age, reading accuracy or IQ. Conclusion: The average level of multisensory facilitation to endogenously driven motor responses does not change gradually with age nor is it related to intelligence or reading accuracy. In general, multisensory integration remains immature until 10–11 years of age and lies within the predicted confines of race‐models.

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  • Some multisensory abilities are present from early infancy, but children do not integrate information across modalities to reduce sensory uncertainty until age ≥8 y.

    “Although some multisensory abilities are present from early infancy (6–8), in recent studies, children did not integrate information across modalities for shape discrimination, spatial localization, or detection of visual–auditory events until age ≥8 y (9–11).”

    From Fusion of visual cues is not mandatory in children (2010) · cites this paper as [11]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Raab, D. (1962). Statistical facilitation of simple reaction times. Transactions of the New York Academy of Science, 24, 574-590.
  2. Raven, J.C., Court, J.H., & Raven, J. (1990). Coloured progressive matrices. Oxford: Oxford Psychologists Press.

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Authors
Barutchu, A., Crewther, D. P., & Crewther, S. G.
Affiliations
La Trobe University (AU)
Corresponding author
Crewther, Sheila G.
ORCID
Venue
Developmental Science
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-03-30
Volume
12
Issue
3
Pages
464-473
ISSN
  • 1363-755X (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-7687
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-7687.2008.00782.x
OpenAlex
W1970721054
Cited by
113
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 7
FWCI
5.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
Keywords
multisensory integration, race model, coactivation, motor reaction time, children, audiovisual integration, audiovisual stimuli, reading accuracy, nonverbal intelligence, age differences, cognitive development
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Auditory Perception, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Humans, Intelligence, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Reading, Visual Perception

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