Effect of static-noise and grating masks on detection and identification of grating targets.

Ability to detect grating targets and to distinguish between gratings of different spatial frequencies was measured in the presence of static-noise masks and grating masks. Static noise reduces detection and identification in similar fashion, although the effect on detection is greater under some conditions. Grating masks alter identification more than detection, but the effect on identification is reduced when distinctive beat patterns are present to aid identification.