The present study indicates that the gaze-contingent visual masking method used is useful for revealing the effective acquisition time.

In this study, we examined the stability of visual masking performance in recent-onset schizophrenia patients over an 18-month period.

The findings of this study provide further support for the view that visual masking deficits reflect a possible vulnerability marker for schizophrenia.

Visual masking deficit in schizophrenia has been suggested to be a potential vulnerability marker for schizophrenia.