Binocular switch suppression (BSS) is a technique to suppress usually salient images from an individual's awareness, a type of experimental manipulation used in visual perception and cognitive neuroscience. In BSS, two images of differing signal strengths are repetitively switched between the left and right eye at a constant rate of 1 Hertz. During this process of switching, the image of lower contrast and signal strength is perceptually suppressed for a period of time. Other techniques for such manipulation include binocular rivalry, continuous flash suppression (CFS), visual masking and flicker switch suppression. Similar to binocular rivalry and CFS, BSS works by controlling the signal strength of each respective stimulus and also by managing neural adaption. However, BSS is able to achieve better quality perceptual suppression and longer suppression periods than these other tools. Moreover, unlike other methods, BSS allows one to investigate the neural and behavioural consequences during the period of visual suppression itself and not just after the presentation of the target stimuli. Concepts Signal strength Signal strength plays an important role in the literature of binocular rivalry and visual suppression. Similarly in BSS, it is one of the factors that determine which stimulus gets suppressed perceptually. It is a multidimensional construct that is related to the stimulus' properties. These factors determine signal strength and numerous researchers have proposed the following parameters: luminance contrast, density, colour contrast and spatial frequency content. An image with weaker signal strength is more likely to be suppressed when both eyes are provided with conflicting images of differing signal strength. For example, an image with lower contrast is expected to be suppressed and suppressed for longer periods of time than one with higher contrast. A blurred image is more likely to be suppressed perceptually as opposed to a better focused one. Rivalry dominance and perceptual suppression is also expected to be greater when the difference in signal strength is greater. It is conceptualised that increasing signal strength of an image shown to one particular eye will increase the probability of perceptual dominance of the stimulus and this dominance is likely to last for prolonged periods of time. As such, manipulating signal strength can enable one to control perceptual dominance and also perceptual suppression during binocular rivalry and BSS. Neural adaptation Neural adaptation occurs when one is exposed to a particular visual stimulus for prolonged periods of time. When this phenomenon occurs, the stimulus will gradually