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Multisensory horizon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2026

Tony Cheng Open the ORCID record for Tony Cheng [Opens in a new window]  and
Philip Tseng Open the ORCID record for Philip Tseng [Opens in a new window]
Tony Cheng*
Affiliation:
Waseda Institute for Advanced Study, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan h.cheng.12@alumni.ucl.ac.uk
Philip Tseng
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan ptseng@ntu.edu.tw
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

This comment critiques the concept of “sensory horizon” for focussing narrowly on vision, overlooking aquatic animals’ rich multisensory integration. Aquatic vertebrates possess sophisticated auditory, mechanosensory, olfactory, and tactile systems that support essential behaviours. Evidence indicates that multisensory integration evolved in water, challenging visual-centric views. We thus urge replacing “sensory horizon” with “multisensory horizon” to more accurately reflect ecological and evolutionary realities.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e171
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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