Detecting target shifts under uniform field flicker

An experiment was performed in which a small target, viewed foveally, underwent 1 degree lateral shifts at quasi-random intervals. Subjects' response latency to the shift was investigated under various square-wave flicker conditions and compared to non-flickering conditions. Flicker was found to raise latencies, the effect peaking between 8 and 14 Hz. Under constant luminance difference between target and background the high target contrast phase was found to dominate the response cueing. The results are discussed in terms of a simple model of cumulative signal strength and adaptation processes.