RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACILITATION AT THRESHOLD AND SUPRATHRESHOLD CONTOUR INTEGRATION

We reevaluate the facilitation at threshold previously reported betwee n aligned micropatterns and assess the role of such lateral spatial in teractions in suprathreshold contour integration tasks. Contrary to pr evious claims, we show that these interactions are phase dependent. Fu rthermore, they are clearly evident only for foveal viewing, are not e vident for curved alignments (>20 degrees), and do not produce any sup rathreshold consequence for contrast perception. Such findings questio n their usefulness for contour integration of smoothly curved suprathr eshold paths. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.