Prior expectation of objects in space is dependent on the direction of gaze

Abstract

Many studies of multisensory spatial localization have shown that observers responses are well-characterized by Bayesian inference, as localization judgments are influenced not only by the reliability of sensory encoding, but expectations about where things occur in space. Here, we investigate the frame of reference for the prior expectation of objects in space. Using an audiovisual localization task, we systematically manipulate fixation position and evaluate whether this prior is encoded in an eye-centered, head-centered, or hybrid frame of reference. Results show that in a majority of participants, this prior is encoded in an eye-centered frame of reference.