ABSTRACT
Temporal integration in the visual system is the tendency for separate stimuli presented in close temporal proximity to be treated or perceived as one stimulus. Temporal integration is inversely related to the phenomenon of temporal resolution, the ability of the visual system to detect variation in stimulation over time. For example, consider visual masking, a phenomenon possibly involving temporal integration. Of several types of masking (for recent review, see Breitmeyer, 1984), one type—masking by structure—involves perceptual interference between spatially overlapping patterns. On some trials, one pattern-the target-is briefly presented to an observer closely followed by presentation of the other pattern-the mask. On other trials, the order of target and mask is reversed. On still other trials, target and mask are presented simultaneously. When the two stimuli are presented in close temporal proximity, the presence of the mask degrades or interferes with the visibility of the target. Under certain conditions, this interference may be produced by temporal integration (Breitmeyer, 1984).
