Biomaterial Database

Luminance contrast and motion detection. 1990

J C Boulton, and R F Hess

Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Direction discrimination was used to measure the minimum and maximum displacement for the detection of motion (Dmin and Dmax) for abruptly displaced sinewave gratings. This was measured for a range of contrast levels from 2 to 32 times the detection threshold for a range of spatially narrow band stimuli. Performance for Dmin (but not Dmax) was found to deteriorate with an increase in contrast, with the most sensitive values for Dmin obtained at contrast levels of 4-8 times detection threshold. This dependence on luminance contrast is thought to be due to the physiology of the visual system, rather than the physics of the stimulus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D009039	Motion Perception	The real or apparent movement of objects through the visual field.	Movement Perception,Perception, Motion,Perception, Movement
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015350	Contrast Sensitivity	The ability to detect sharp boundaries (stimuli) and to detect slight changes in luminance at regions without distinct contours. Psychophysical measurements of this visual function are used to evaluate VISUAL ACUITY and to detect eye disease.	Visual Contrast Sensitivity,Sensitivity, Contrast,Sensitivity, Visual Contrast