masking

psychology

Also known as: masking phenomenon, metacontrast

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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Masking, in psychology, refers to the phenomenon where one stimulus obscures or hides the effect of another stimulus that occurs immediately after it. This can involve concealing one's true identity or motives, or hiding information from view. Masks, as physical objects, have been used across cultures and time periods to disguise identity or represent another being, serving the dual purpose of hiding and revealing. In the context of perception, backward masking occurs when a stimulus is presented and then immediately followed by another stimulus that prevents the viewer from perceiving the first one.123

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illusion
Olfactory phenomena
…be present the phenomenon of masking; this is a decrease in sensitivity to one odour after exposure to another (for example, a strong-smelling disinfectant).
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…be present the phenomenon of masking; this is a decrease in sensitivity to one odour after exposure to another (for example, a strong-smelling disinfectant).
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perception
Temporal (time) relations
…black disk is disrupted (masked) by the rapidly successive tachistoscopic presentation of a second stimulus: a black ring that fits snugly around the disk. Indeed, as far as experimental subjects can tell, the disk target simply does not appear, though when flashed without being followed by the ring, it…
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…black disk is disrupted (masked) by the rapidly successive tachistoscopic presentation of a second stimulus: a black ring that fits snugly around the disk. Indeed, as far as experimental subjects can tell, the disk target simply does not appear, though when flashed without being followed by the ring, it…
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human eye
Inhibition
…when illuminated alone—it has been inhibited by the earlier stimulus (paracontrast).
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…when illuminated alone—it has been inhibited by the earlier stimulus (paracontrast).
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sound
The ear as spectrum analyzer
This effect, called masking, plays an important role in the psychophysical response to sound. Low frequencies mask higher frequencies much more strongly than high frequencies mask lower ones; this is one reason why a complex wave is perceived as having a different tone quality or timbre from a…
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This effect, called masking, plays an important role in the psychophysical response to sound. Low frequencies mask higher frequencies much more strongly than high frequencies mask lower ones; this is one reason why a complex wave is perceived as having a different tone quality or timbre from a…
Read More