Abstract
Recent studies have provided evidence which contradicts the previous finding that target detectability decreases with increases in the number of internal contours in the target. The present study attempted to reconcile these discrepant findings by examining the effect of luminance level on detectability of internally contoured targets under mask and no-mask conditions. The results showed that the different luminance levels used in these studies may have indeed contributed to the discrepant results.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Breitmeyer, B. G., & Ganz, L. Implications of sustained and transient channels for theories of visual pattern masking, saccadic suppression, and information processing. Psychological Review, 1976, 83, 1–36.
Cox, S., & Dember, W. N. Backward masking of visual targets with internal contours. Psychonomic Science, 1970, 19, 225–226.
Cox, S., & Dember, W. N. Effects of target-field luminance, interstimulus interval and target-mask separation on extent of visual backward masking. Psychonomic Science, 1971, 22, 79–80.
Dember, W. N., Mathews, W. D., & Stefl, M. Backward masking and enhancement of multi-segmented visual targets. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1973, 1, 45–47.
Dember, W. N., & Stefl, M. Backward enhancement? Science, 1972, 175, 93–95.
Dixon, J. W., & Massey, F. J. Introduction to statistical analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969.
Ellis, D., & Dember, W. N. Backward masking of visual targets with internal contours: A replication. Psychonomic Science, 1971, 22, 91–92.
Lefton, L. Internal contours, intercontour distance, and interstimulus interval. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1974, 103, 891–895.
Purcell, D., Stewart, A., & Dember, W. N. Facilitation of visual backward masking by increasing target duration: A methodological extension. Psychonomic Science, 1969, 17, 360–361.
Sherrick, M. F., & Dember, W. N. Visual backward masking and the area-detection relation. Psychonomic Science, 1970, 19, 127–128.
Stigler, R. Chronophotische Studien uber den Umgebungskontrast. Pflügers Archiv für die gesamte Physiologic 1910, 134, 365–435.
Werner, H. Studies on contour: I. Qualitative analysis. American Journal of Psychology, 1935, 47, 40–64.
Weisstein, N., Ozog, G., & Szoc, R. A comparison and elaboration of two models of metacontrast. Psychological Review, 1975, 82, 325–343.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arand, D., Dember, W.N. The effect of luminance on metacontrast with internally contoured targets. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 11, 57–59 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336765
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336765