Selective chromatic adaptation at different spatial frequencies

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 427 - 437
• Main Authors: Stromeyer, C.F., Kranda, K., Sternheim, C.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 1978
• Subjects: Adaptation, Ocular; Color Perception - physiology; Humans; Male; Photoreceptor Cells - physiology; Space life sciences; Space Perception - physiology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/0042-6989(78)90053-6

Selective chromatic adaptation was studied as a function of test-grating spatial frequency and adapting field radiance, using Stiles's two-color threshold method. Increment thresholds were measured for unitary contrast red, green and violet sine-wave gratings produced by interference and displayed on equi-luminance red and violet adapting fields. Adapting levels that were sufficiently intense to produce selective chromatic adaptation for low spatial frequencies and long duration flashes, often produced considerably less adaptation for high spatial frequencies and brief flashes, suggesting that the magnitude of selective chromatic adaptation depends on the spatio-temporal properties of the test stimulus. Additional measurements obtained with violet gratings on an orange field plus weak secondary fields suggest that the adaptive behavior of the blue-sensitive π mechanisms changes when spatial frequency is varied.