Temporal tuning of continuous flash suppression for 3D objects reflects intrinsic dynamics of visual awareness

Understanding how visual information gains access to conscious awareness is a central issue in cognitive neuroscience. Continuous Flash Suppression (CFS) provides a powerful method to investigate this transition by reliably suppressing visual stimuli from awareness. While previous work by Zhu et al. (2016) has shown that mask frequency influences suppression strength using 2D stimuli, it remains unclear whether these temporal properties extend to more ecologically valid, 3D stimuli. It is also unknown whether suppression efficiency depends on the eye to which the stimulus is presented. In the present study, we examined the temporal dynamics of visual awareness using a real 3D object presented under CFS. Specifically, a black 3D disc was presented to one eye, while dynamic, colorful masks flickering at ten different frequencies, ranging from 0 (static) to 32 Hz, were presented simultaneously to the other eye. Participants performed a detection task, responding as soon as any part of the stimulus became visible. To assess potential ocular asymmetries, the stimulus was presented in separate blocks to the right and left eye. Reaction times (RTs) showed a clear dependence on mask frequency, with maximal suppression occurring at about 6 Hz. No reliable differences between right- and left-eye presentations were found. Together, these findings extend previous results obtained with 2D stimuli to 3D objects, supporting the idea that CFS engages fundamental temporal mechanisms of visual awareness that are independent of stimulus characteristics and are not influenced by the eye of presentation.