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Integration, interruption and processing rate in visual backward masking

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Summary

The identification of a briefly presented test stimulus is impaired when the test stimulus is followed by a masking stimulus consisting of random contours. Two theories have been proposed to account for this effect (backward masking by visual noise). According to interruption theory, the time which is available for test stimulus processing is limited by the onset of the masking stimulus. According to integration theory, test stimulus and masking stimulus are combined in a single percept where the test stimulus is degraded by the contours of the masking stimulus. A review of the methods used to decide between the two theories permits the conclusion that backward masking by visual noise requires a two-factor theory: integration for “short” (less than about 100 msec) and interruption for “long” test stimulus-masking stimulus asynchronies. It is shown that evidence for interruption can only be obtained when processing load is used as a converging operation. Finally, some approaches to the measurement of processing rate under backward masking are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Identifizierbarkeit eines tachistoskopisch dargebotenen Testreizes wird durch nachfolgende Exposition eines aus Zufallskonturen bestehenden Maskierreizes beeinträchtigt. Zur Erklärung dieser „Maskierung durch visuelles Rauschen“ wurden zwei Theorien formuliert. Gemäß der Unterbrechungstheorie wird die zur Verarbeitung des Testreizes verfügbare Zeit durch die Darbietung des Maskierreizes verkürzt; gemäß der Integrationstheorie werden Test- und Maskierreiz in eine gemeinsame zentrale Repräsentation verwandelt, in der das Testreizäquivalent von den Maskierreizkonturen überlagert wird und dadurch eine Qualitätsminderung („degradation“) erfährt. Die zur Entscheidung zwischen den beiden Theorien verwendeten Methoden werden analysiert, mit dem Ergebnis, daß die Maskierung durch visuelles Rauschen eine Zwei-Faktorentheorie erfordert: Integration für „kurze“ (kleiner als ca. 100 msec) und Unterbrechung für „lange“ Testreiz-Maskierreizintervalle. Es wird gezeigt, daß Unterbrechungseffekte nur dann nachgewiesen werden können, wenn die Belastung des informationsverarbeitenden Systems („processing load“) als konvergierende Operation eingeführt wird. Schließlich werden Ansätze zur Messung der Geschwindigkeit der Informationsverarbeitung unter Maskierungsbedingungen referiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, USA

    Eckart Scheerer

  2. Psychologisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-4630, Bochum, Germany

    Eckart Scheerer

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  1. Eckart Scheerer
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Additional information

Preparation of this report was facilitated by International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship No. F05-TW-1794 from the Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA. The helpful remarks of Dr. A. O. Dick are appreciated.

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Scheerer, E. Integration, interruption and processing rate in visual backward masking. Psychol. Forsch. 36, 71–93 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424655

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