The effects of surround contrast on contrast thresholds, perceived contrast and contrast discrimination

Perceived contrast, contrast detection thresholds and contrast discrimination thresholds were measured in the presence and absence of surrounding patterns of a similar spatio-temporal makeup. In the foveal retina we found that the perceived contrast of the central pattern was reduced by the presence of the contrast surrounds with the effect being greatest at low test contrast. Detection thresholds were not affected and contrast discrimination thresholds were only affected over a small range of low test contrasts. However if the test pattern was made smaller, or if its central part was occluded detection thresholds were raised. In the peripheral retina detection thresholds were raised and discrimination thresholds were affected over most of the range of contrasts. We argue that the pattern of results resembles those produced in masking paradigms where the test and mask are coextensive if the spatial range of interactions is taken into account and hence the effects of the contrast surround may be merely a manifestation of normal masking processes.