Summation characteristics of the detection of compound gratings

AbstractMany classical experiments have shown that two superimposed gratings are more easily detected than a single grating, in keeping with probability theory. Here we test the rules for the detection of 2-component compound gratings by extending the range of parameters used in previous experiments. Two complementary methods of deriving summation indices are described. Data are presented so that the conditions for the transition from probability to neural summation are easily identified. True probability summation occurs only when grating contrasts are carefully perceptually equalised and spatial frequency differs by more than a factor of 2. A wide range of contrast ratios of the component gratings were explored such that gratings were at different contrasts, relative to respective thresholds. We find clear evidence of suppressive interactions when the compound gratings are composed of a close to threshold low frequency component and a below-threshold higher spatial frequency component

Age-related change in fast adaptation mechanisms measured with the scotopic full-field ERG.

PurposeTo quantify the response dynamics of fast adaptation mechanisms of the scotopic ERG in younger and older adults using full-field m-sequence flash stimulation.MethodsScotopic ERGs were measured for a series of flashes separated by 65 ms over a range of 260 ms in 16 younger (20-26, 22.2 ± 2.1; range mean ±1 SD) and 16 older (65-85, 71.2 ± 7) observers without retinal pathology. A short-wavelength (λ peak = 442 nm) LED was used for scotopic stimulation, and the flashes ranged from 0.0001 to 0.01 cd s m(-2). The complete binary kernel series was derived from the responses to the m-sequence flash stimulation, and the first- and second-order kernel responses were analyzed. The first-order kernel represented the response to a single, isolated flash, while the second-order kernels reflected the adapted flash responses that followed a single flash by one or more base intervals. B-wave amplitudes of the adapted flash responses were measured and plotted as a function of interstimulus interval to describe the recovery of the scotopic ERG. A linear function was fitted to the linear portion of the recovery curve, and the slope of the line was used to estimate the rate of fast adaptation recovery.ResultsThe amplitudes of the isolated flash responses and rates of scotopic fast adaptation recovery were compared between the younger and older participants using a two-way ANOVA. The isolated flash responses and rates of recovery were found to be significantly lower in the older adults. However, there was no difference between the two age groups in response amplitude or recovery rate after correcting for age-related changes in the density of the ocular media.ConclusionsThese results demonstrated that the rate of scotopic fast adaptation recovery of normal younger and older adults is similar when stimuli are equated for retinal illuminance

Spalvoto stimulo suvokimas regimojo lauko periferijoje

We have studied the changes that occur in human colour perception in the peripheral retina. By modelling the magnitude of activation produced in the L-M and S-(L+M) cone-opponent systems for matched para-foveal and peripheral chromatic stimuli, we have found that variations in perceived appearance are mirrored by a reduction in function of the L-M opponent system. The operation of the S-cone opponent system is affected to a much lesser degree, implying that there is a changing pattern of predominance between the two cone-opponent mechanisms in the peripheral retina. We will explore possible retinal and cortical bases for these changes.Mes tyrėme, kaip pakinta stimulo spalvos suvokimas, kai stimulas matomas regimojo lauko centre ir kai periferijoje. Lygindami L-M ir S-(L+M) oponentinių sistemų, gaunančių signalus iš centrinės ir periferinės tinklainės dalies, aktyvumą, nustatėme, kad spalvų suvokimo pokyčiai atspindi L-M oponentinės sistemos aktyvumo silpnėjimą periferijoje. S kūgelių įtaka oponentinės sistemos aktyvumui kinta mažiau negu L-M kūgelių. Taigi, dviejų oponentinių sistemų santykinė įtaka spalvos suvokimui periferijoje ir centre pakinta. Straipsnyje tiriama, kokią reikšmę šiems pokyčiams turi tinklainėje ir smegenų žievėje vykstantys procesai.&nbsp