A dynamic 4-dot mask: the size of masking on coloured stimuli

The visibility of a target is reduced when a lateral mask remains on the display after the target disappears. This effect seems to be independent of the image-level characteristics of the stimulus. This study would verify the efficacy of a 4-dot masking, in which an apparent motion illusion is added on coloured stimuli otherwise difficult to mask. Both localization and colour identification tasks are assessed, in both masked and unmasked conditions. Results show the efficacy of this dynamic masking on coloured stimuli, and seem to confirm the independence of 4-dot masking from the visual characteristics of stimuli.