Audio-Tactile Congruences in Vibro-tactile Music Enhancement World Haptics Conference *

Our project investigates whether vibro-tactile stimulation can enhance music in cochlear implant (CI) users. A first experiment with non-CI users aimed to show how congruences between auditory and vibro-tactile stimulation contribute to vibro-tactile music enhancement. Participants rated their preference of a melody presented through headphones and a haptic actuator. The frequency, intensity, and timing of the vibro-tactile stimulation was made either congruent or incongruent with the pitch, intensity, and rhythm of the music. Overall, ratings were lower when the intensity or timing between the vibro-tactile stimulation and music was incongruent. Future experiments will include a group of CI users.