Biomaterial Database

Photopic spectral sensitivity of the peripheral retina. 1975

B R Wooten, and K Fuld, and L Spillmann

Photopic spectral sensitivity was determined in the mid- and far-peripheral retina by two methods. The first consisted of measuring increment thresholds on a background similar in spectral composition to CIE Source A. The resulting spectral-sensitivity functions displayed maxima at about 440 nm, in agreement with previous work. The second method consisted of measuring dark-adaptation curves following termination of the background. From these curves, spectral-sensitivity functions were derived for various times in the dark. The results showed that the 440 nm maximum quickly diminished. When photopic thresholds were estimated from the cone plateau of the dark-adaptation curves, the spectral-sensitivity functions peaked at about 550 nm and had much the same shape from the parafovea to the far periphery. We suggest that previous findings of maximum photopic sensitivity in the short-wave region of the spectrum resulted from chromatic adaptation induced by backgrounds (such as Source A) that were weighted towards middle and long waves.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010775	Photic Stimulation	Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity.	Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D003118	Color Perception	Mental processing of chromatic signals (COLOR VISION) from the eye by the VISUAL CORTEX where they are converted into symbolic representations. Color perception involves numerous neurons, and is influenced not only by the distribution of wavelengths from the viewed object, but also by its background color and brightness contrast at its boundary.	Color Perceptions,Perception, Color,Perceptions, Color
D003623	Dark Adaptation	Adjustment of the eyes under conditions of low light. The sensitivity of the eye to light is increased during dark adaptation.	Scotopic Adaptation,Adaptation, Dark,Adaptation, Scotopic
D005584	Fovea Centralis	An area approximately 1.5 millimeters in diameter within the macula lutea where the retina thins out greatly because of the oblique shifting of all layers except the pigment epithelium layer. It includes the sloping walls of the fovea (clivus) and contains a few rods in its periphery. In its center (foveola) are the cones most adapted to yield high visual acuity, each cone being connected to only one ganglion cell. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults