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 (η2 5 .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.
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Bedwell, J.S., Brown, J.M. & Orem, D.M. The effect of a red background on location backward masking by structure. Perception & Psychophysics 70, 503–507 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3758/PP.70.3.503
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/PP.70.3.503