Dynamics of shape interaction in human vision

Spatial context can alter perceived shape, and temporal context can influence the perception of a stimulus. We sought to determine the time course of shape interactions by using a paradigm in which closed shape contours are laterally displaced over space and time. Target and masks are separated by various stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) values, yielding forward, backward, and simultaneous masking conditions. Results indicate that spatial lateral interactions of shape are amplified by temporal asynchrony, reaching a peak at SOAs of 80–110 ms. Mask amplitude scales all effects and masking is shape specific. When a single mask follows the target, both spatial configuration and mask onset transient are critical in determining depth of masking. When the target is followed by two sequential masks, the possibility of apparent motion determines whether one or both masks drive masking. These findings suggest that temporal interactions of shape are dependent on an interactive combination of shape specificity and transients, that apparent motion plays a modulatory role, and that target shape is determined after a temporal window, not at its onset.