Crossmodal correspondences between visual, olfactory and auditory information

Abstract: Our senses take in a large amount of information, information that sometimes is congruent across sensory modalities. Crossmodal correspondences are the study of how this information across modalities is integrated by the brain, across which dimensions the correspondences exists, and how it affect us. In the present paper four experiments were conducted, in which potential crossmodal correspondences between audition, vision and olfaction were investigated. It was hypothesized that crossmodal correspondences between olfaction, vision and audition exist along different dimensions. The results showed significant correlations between olfaction and audition when volume varies, i.e., a high volume is associated to a high concentration of an odor, and a low volume is associated to a low concentration of an odor, and vice versa. Furthermore, existing correspondences between vision and audition is reconfirmed. In conclusion, the results provide support to the notion that crossmodal correspondences exists between all sensory modalities, although along different dimensions.