SOME EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MASKING STIMULI ON ICONIC STORAGE

Exp. I (with 4 Ss), using a 12-letter circular display, found recognition accuracy was a monotonic decreasing function of the delay of a bar-shaped indicator supporting an iconic storage conception. Exp. II (with the same 4 Ss) determined backward masking functions with both a pattern and a blank (homogeneous field) mask for single- and 12-letter displays. Functions were obtained when an indicator was simultaneous with each display or delayed 100 msec. after the 12-letter display. The blank mask had no effect on recognition accuracy after delays of 75-100 msec. for all conditions. Masking by the pattern mask asymptoted at a delay of 150 msec. for the single-letter condition, 300 msec. for the 12-letter indicator-simultaneous condition, and 400 msec. for the 12-letter indicator-delayed condition. An interpretation of the pattern mask controlling the processing or read-out time from an iconic storage was supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.