Temporal dark adaptation to spatially complex backgrounds: effect of an additional light source

Abstract

Visual adaptation (and especially dark adaptation) has been studied extensively in the past, however, mainly addressing adaptation to fully dark backgrounds. At this stage, it is unclear whether these results are not too simple to be applied to complex situations, such as predicting adaptation of a motorist driving at night. To fill this gap we set up a study investigating how spatially complex backgrounds influence temporal dark adaptation. Our results showed that dark adaptation to spatially complex backgrounds leads to much longer adaptation times than dark adaptation to spatially uniform backgrounds. We conclude therefore that the adaptation models based on past studies overestimate the visual system's sensitivity to detect luminance variations in spatially complex environments. Our results also showed large variations in adaptation times when varying the degree of spatial complexity of the background. Hence, we may conclude that it is important to take into account models that are based on spatially complex backgrounds when predicting dark adaptation for complex environments.

The effect of spatial luminance distribution on dark adaptation

“…In order to study the effect of spatial luminance distribution of the background on the adaptation time, two experiments were conducted. In Experiment E1, already discussed in Stokkermans and Heynderickx (2014), the adaptation time was measured for several target luminance levels presented on a spatially uniform dark background, whereas in Experiment E2, the adaptation time was measured for more target luminance levels on spatially nonuniform backgrounds. Both experiments consisted of two tasks: a reaction time task and an adaptation task.…”

“…All experiments were conducted in one of the labs of Philips Research in Eindhoven. As described in full detail in Stokkermans and Heynderickx (2014), a black viewing box was placed on a table in front of a monitor (FIMI-Philips 18-in. SXGA, 1280 3 1024 pixels).…”

“…According to this model the luminance threshold for a nonuniform background is not necessarily equal to the luminance threshold for a uniform background with the same averaged luminance. A recent study of Stokkermans and Heynderickx (2014) showed that the time required to detect a dim target in a dark background containing a bright source increases when decreasing the distance between the source and the target. This suggests that dark adaptation strongly depends on local luminance levels surrounding the target to be detected.…”

A Comparison of Methodologies to Investigate the Influence of Light on the Atmosphere of a Space

“…It is possible that the distinct difference in light and dark in the space, caused by a sharp edge created by the direct sunlight component, may have affected the adaptation state. Currently, it is not fully known how the visual system exactly adapts to a nonuniform light distribution [Stokkermans and Heynderickx 2014;Stokkermans and others 2016]. In addition, brightness of a space depends on the spatial distribution of the light in that space.…”

Achieving and Maintaining Perceptual Intent with HDR Imaging

“…It is enticing to assume that the SSDR covers all the dynamic range that is needed for the presentation of HDR imagery and that an HDR imaging system only has to cover that range. However, when watching HDR content, the HVS is very likely to change its state of adaptation continuously because smaller adjustments in adapting luminance are relatively fast (hundreds of milliseconds to seconds) 15 to adjust the perceived dynamic range in typical viewing environments. Therefore, using just the SSDR would be acceptable if the viewer’s state of adaptation in each viewing circumstance was known.…”