LOW-LEVEL MASKING IN THE ATTENTIONAL BLINK

If two targets (T1 and T2) are to be identified among other stimuli di splayed in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), correct identifica tion of T1 can produce an attentional blink (AB) lasting several hundr ed milliseconds, during which detection of T2 is impaired. Experiment 1 confirmed that omission of the item directly following T1 (the +1 it em) reduces the AB (J. E. Raymond, K. L. Shapiro, & K. M. Arnell, 1992 ). The next 3 experiments varied the spatial and temporal relationship s between T1 and the +1 item to study how masking of T1 affects the AB deficit. Perception of T1 was impaired by pattern masking arising fro m temporal integration or superimposition of T1 and the +1 item; it wa s also impaired by metacontrast masking. We conclude that masking affe cts the AB indirectly by degrading T1 thereby increasing the duration of T1 processing. A 2-stage model proposed by M. M. Chun and M. C. Pot ter (1995) is supported.