Abstract
Test-stimulus thresholds were determined as a function of the interval separating the masking- and test-stimuli onsets as a darkened area in the visual field was exposed binocularly once each 750±5 ms for a duration of 21, 42, or 188 ms. Increased test-stimulus thresholds were observed following the onset of the masking stimulus and were directly related to the duration of the dark interval. These results demonstrated that when the eyes are briefly exposed to a dark interval, transient fluctuations in visual sensitivity occur. Such sensitivity changes, which are likely of neural origin, affect the magnitude of masking effects.
© 1971 Optical Society of America
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