Transposition in backward masking. The case of the travelling gap.

The transfer of attributes from a test stimulus (TS) to a masking stimulus (MS) during backward masking was investigated. Results indicated that a gap inserted on a TS transferred to a MS and that the degree of transfer varied as an inverted U-shaped function of ISI. Two explanations of the findings were offered. One was based on preservation of distinctive features and the second was based on "filling in" theory and the decrease in masking which occurs with increased spatial separation. The suggestion was made that an explanation of the transposition effect should be consistent with theories of backward masking and apparent motion.