Thanks so much for your response.
I have attached the input file again. Hopefully it will open this time.
If it doesn;t work, here is a little more detail about what the task does (or is supposed to do):
yes, there is a stimulus that appears at the same time as the prime, but then the primed image is masked by a third stimulus. In other words, a red dot appears in the middle of the screen at the same time the prime is flashed above or below the dot followed quickly by a masking stimulus. (Subjects are told to press one key if the Image appears above the red dot and another key if the Image appears below the red dot--- the only image they are supposed to see is the masking stimulus).
Anyway, I will follow your suggestion and put a fixation stimulus first, and let you know what happens! Thanks again for your help,
Jenny