Correlations of Auditory and Visual Signal-Detection Parameters

It was hypothesized that individuals adopt characteristic criteria for responding to signals and that criteria for responding should correlate when signals are presented through different sensory channels. In the present experiment, 20 subjects were to detect auditory signals (40, 0.5-see pulses of white noise 1.8 dB more intense than 200 other pulses in a train), or in a different session, visual signals (40, 0.5-see pulses of light 3 dB more intense than 200 other pulses in a train). Interstimulus interval was 2 sec; position of the signal pulses within the train was randomly determined. Detections and false responses were scored for each subject and β and d′ computed. Moderately large and statistically significant correlations between modalities were observed not only for β but also d′; i.e., not only does there appear to be a characteristic attitude toward criterion for responding that is common to the auditory and visual moralities, but apparently, there is also some mechanism that determines differential sensitivity that is common to the two modalities.