One line decreases the visibility of a simultaneous identical distant second line

Abstract

A top line decreased the visibility of a simultaneous, identical, distant bottom line. This context-produced decrease in visibility (DV) occurred when the bottom line was masked by flanking lines and hence was less visible than the top line. It continued when the top line was three times as far from the bottom line. It disappeared without the mask. There was a hint of an opposing context-produced increase in visibility (IV) when the lines were close together. The DV is not accounted for by numerous extant phenomena and theories. It means that the top line decreased the similarity in visibility between it and the bottom line, a contrast effect for visibility, rather than for a typical attribute. Contrast does not occur between two attributes that are perceptually equal. Therefore, the reason why two distant equally visible objects fail to result in a DV may be that their equal visibility precludes the occurrence of contrast. This DV-as-contrast theory is consistent with evidence that two groups (phenomenal wholes) are associated with both contrast and DVs, and thus also with evidence that one group is associated with both assimilation and IVs.