Abstract
Ss were briefly shown pairs of letters under backward masking and disinhibitive backward masking conditions. For the backward masking condition, a single homogeneous flash of light (M1), varying in duration, followed the presentation of letters after a varying delay (IS11), and recognition of the target letters (TS) was found to be a function of M1 duration and ISI1. For the disinhibition condition, a variable second mask (M2) followed M1 after a variable delay (ISI2) and disinhibition of M1’s effect on TS recognition occurred. Provided the ISIs were adequate, a relatively powerful M2 wass found to disinhibit a moderate Ml’s effect on the TS. Current theories of visual masking were examined in the light of these findings.
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This work was part of the research carried out by the senior author at the University of Auckland in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MSc degree.
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Long, N.R., Gribben, J.A. The recovery of a visually masked target. Perception & Psychophysics 10, 197–200 (1971). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212804
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212804