Further Studies on the Masking of brief Visual Stimuli by a Random Pattern

Abstract

Abstract A brief visual test stimulus may be masked by a preceding random pattern of roughly equal intensity in the same way as by a succeeding random pattern. The parameters of random pattern duration, interval between stimuli, and test stimulus duration limiting the masking effect, show a regularity very similar in the two conditions. When the random pattern precedes the test stimulus, the relationship between the two may be stated as follows:— The identical effects are found when the two stimuli are presented separately, one to each eye, both for random pattern preceding and succeeding the test stimulus. It was concluded that masking resulted through the same central interaction, whether produced by the preceding or succeeding random pattern. The interaction may be related to, and occur within the limits of, apparent simultaneity of rapidly successive visual stimuli.