Word recall as a function of bisensory and unisensory split-span task presentation and modality preferences.

This study investigated the effects of visual and auditory modality preferences on work recall in bisensory and unisensory split-span tasks. Subjects tended to perform better in the bisensory rather than unisensory condition. Modality preferences (n = 72 subjects) were generally unrelated to performance in these experimental conditions. These findings suggest that preferences for a modality are better characterized as response biases rather than as increased processing capacity for preferred modality material.