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An intricate link has been found between the perception of sound and sight, a report in the 19 October Nature implies. Scientists at the University of California discovered that when attention is drawn to a sound an individual's ability to see is also enhanced.

The authors hope that this discovery may help understanding of how the brain processes information about its surroundings, and ultimately lead to better treatments for neurological disorders such as attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia. Professor Steven Hillyard, Professor of Neurosciences, commented: "Our results suggest that you will see an object or event more clearly if it makes a sound before you see it." Thirty-three volunteers were asked to indicate whether they could see a dim, obscured light appear soon after a sound was presented. The sound and light appeared either on the same side or on opposite sides. After using signal detection theory to dismiss guesses,...