Contrast sensitivity and retinal ganglion cell responses in the primate.

Abstract

Human contrast sensitivity is considered in relation to the responses delivered by retinal ganglion cells of the primate to luminance and chromatic contrast. At different temporal frequencies, response amplitude relative to response variability determines the limit to sensitivity of a single ganglion cell. This can be related to specific models of central detection mechanisms. Both for luminance and chromatic contrast, psychophysical sensitivity to temporal modulation can be achieved by summation of activity of just a few cells that provide input to a detection mechanism. This analysis is then extended to a spatial context. Several sets of data indicate that, in spatial terms, detection mechanisms are of limited spatial extent, and that, at least in the case of luminance patterns, eye movements play a critical role in contrast detection.

Flicker-glare and visual-comfort assessments of light emitting diode billboards

“…The luminance levels in the present study are in the photopic region where the eye is most sensitive to a temporal frequency near 10 Hz and has a critical fusion frequency around 40-50 Hz [17,18]. Since the modulation depth is 100% in this study, all the tested frequencies (< 30 Hz) should produce perceptible flicker.…”

Influence of Spatial and Chromatic Noise on Luminance Discrimination

“…Colour and luminance information may have had a major role in the evolution of the visual system 2 that might explain why different cells have evolved to encode colour and luminance differences in both temporal and spatial domains 3 . The colour and luminance contrast of an image modulates the activity of ganglion cells within the retina 3 , 4 . At least three groups of ganglion cells encode chromatic isoluminant contrast and luminance contrast with different contrast sensitivities 4 – 6 .…”

“…The colour and luminance contrast of an image modulates the activity of ganglion cells within the retina 3 , 4 . At least three groups of ganglion cells encode chromatic isoluminant contrast and luminance contrast with different contrast sensitivities 4 – 6 . M cells have high luminance contrast sensitivity and weak responses for chromatic isoluminant contrast 4 , 5 , 7 – 14 .…”

“…At least three groups of ganglion cells encode chromatic isoluminant contrast and luminance contrast with different contrast sensitivities 4 – 6 . M cells have high luminance contrast sensitivity and weak responses for chromatic isoluminant contrast 4 , 5 , 7 – 14 . P cells have high contrast sensitivity for red-green isoluminant contrast and low luminance contrast sensitivity 4 , 5 , 7 – 13 .…”

“…M cells have high luminance contrast sensitivity and weak responses for chromatic isoluminant contrast 4 , 5 , 7 – 14 . P cells have high contrast sensitivity for red-green isoluminant contrast and low luminance contrast sensitivity 4 , 5 , 7 – 13 . Small bistratified ganglion cells (K cells) are highly responsive to blue-yellow isoluminant contrast and have little or no responsiveness to luminance contrast 5 , 15 .…”