Cite as:
Psychology J K L I f, Halle-Wittenberg M-L, Halle D 0, 2001, "The effect of binocular disparity on metacontrast masking" Perception 30 ECVP Abstract Supplement

The effect of binocular disparity on metacontrast masking

J K Lukas [Institute for Psychology, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D 06099 Halle

The detectability of a briefly flashed visual stimulus (target) is usually weakened considerably by masking stimuli that are presented immediately after the target. The strength of this metacontrast effect depends strongly on the spatial distance between target and masking stimuli. The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the role of different binocular disparities with target and mask presented at varying relative depth positions. In particular, a question to be resolved is if metacontrast masking is a retinal rather than a central phenomenon of visual information proces- sing. The stimuli were random-dot stereograms presented dichoptically and showing a Landolt C with a randomly positioned gap as target and a surrounding annulus as mask. The subject's task was to detect the position of the gap. A total of 84 conditions were examined (6 different ISIs combined with 14 different combinations of disparities for mask and target, including crossed as well as uncrossed disparities). The results show clear effects of depth separation and ISI. They are discussed with respect to recent quantitative theories of metacontrast masking.

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