Abstract
Simple response times (RTs) are known to be slower to the offset of a visual stimulus than to its onset. This is called the onset advantage. In the first of four experiments, we discovered that a spurious onset advantage can be produced by the long persistence of P31 phosphor. In the remaining three experiments, we found that offset RTs were slower only when they were made in a context in which responses to the abrupt onset of some stimuli had to be suppressed. We tested this hypothesis of response suppression in two ways: (1) by mixing regular onset trials with other trials on which a response to an onset had to be suppressed, and (2) by ramping the emergence of “offset” stimuli over time, so that offsets were the only abrupt events in the display. In both cases, we found that the onset advantage depended critically on whether the responses were made in a context of response suppression. We conclude that the onset advantage is mediated not by sensory factors such as visible persistence, but by response programming factors that are strongly affected by contextual events.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baro, J. A., Brzezicki, L. J., Lehmkuhle, S., &Hughes, H. C. (1992). The perceived duration of gratings.Perception,21, 161–166.
Breitmeyer, B. G., Levi, D. M, &Harwerth, R. S. (1981). Flicker masking in spatial vision.Vision Research,21, 1377–1385.
Briggs, G. G., &Kinsbourne, M. (1972). Visual persistence as measured by reaction time.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology,24, 318–325.
Coltheart, M. (1980). Iconic memory and visible persistence.Perception & Psychophysics,27, 183–228.
Di Lollo, V. (1980). Temporal integration in visual memory.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,109, 75–97.
Di Lollo, V., Seiffert, A. E., Burchett, G., Rabeeh, R., &Ruman, T. A. (1997). Phosphor persistence of oscilloscopic displays: A comparison of four phosphors.Spatial Vision,10, 353–360.
Efron, R. (1970). Effect of stimulus duration on perceptual onset and offset latencies.Perception & Psychophysics,8, 231–234.
Eriksen, B. A., &Eriksen, C. W. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task.Perception & Psychophysics,16, 143–149.
May, J. G., Martin, F., Maccana, F., &Lovegrove, W. J. (1988). The effects of spatial frequency and temporal waveform on three measures of temporal processing.Journal of General Psychology,115, 293–306.
OSGOOD, C. E. (1953).Method and theory in experimental psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Parker, D. M. (1980). Simple reaction times to the onset, offset, and contrast reversal of sinusoidal grating stimuli.Perception & Psycho-physics,28, 365–368.
Serviere, J., Miceli, D., &Galifret, Y. (1977). Electrophysiological correlates of the visual perception of “instantaneous” and “durable.“Vision Research,17, 57–63.
Smith, A. T, Early, F., &Grogan, S. C. (1986). Flicker masking and developmental dyslexia.Perception,15, 473–482.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This work was supported by research grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to V.D.L. and to J.T.E., from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH43924) to S.Y., and by a NATO travel grant (CRG 960714) to V.D.L., J.T.E., and S.Y.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Di Lollo, V., Enns, J.T., Yantis, S. et al. Response latencies to the onset and offset of visual stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics 62, 218–225 (2000). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212073
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212073