Title

The effect of a red background on location backward masking by structure

Authors

Authors

J. S. Bedwell; J. M. Brown;D. M. Orem

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Percept. Psychophys.

Keywords

VISUAL MASKING; MAGNOCELLULAR PATHWAY; M-CHANNELS; COLOR; SCHIZOPHRENIA; METACONTRAST; PERCEPTION; STIMULI; MOTION; MONKEY; Psychology; Psychology, Experimental

Abstract

It has been established that diffuse red light partially suppresses the magnocellular (M) visual pathway. Previous research reported that metacontrast masking is reduced (improved accuracy) with a red background, consistent with a reduction in M pathway response from the mask. In contrast, a recent study used location backward masking by noise and found that accuracy decreased with a red background-theoretically due to suppression of the M pathway's initial localization of the target. The present study provides the first report examining the effect of red light on performance in a location backward masking by structure task. Results revealed a main effect of a red (as opposed to a green) background on reducing masking (improved accuracy) with a medium effect size (eta(2) =.23). This effect was strongest at the 47- and 60-msec stimulus onset asynchronies. Results suggest that red light primarily decreases interference from the mask in location backward masking by structure.

Journal Title

Perception & Psychophysics

Volume

70

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

503

Last Page

507

WOS Identifier

WOS:000257217300012

ISSN

0031-5117

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