title: The effect of a red background on location backward masking by structure.
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 (eta2 = .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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816-1390, USA. jbedwell@mail.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bedwell
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Orem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003118:Color Perception; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D014796:Visual Perception