Simultaneous luminance contrast with chromatic colors. 1993

P Heggelund
Department of Neurophysiology, University of Oslo, Norway.

The variations in the color of a test field of constant luminance during changes in the luminance of a contiguous inducing field was measured psychophysically. The fields had the same hue (red, green, or blue). The colors induced in the test field could be specified by the strength of a chromatic quality, and by the strength of the opponent qualities luminous/black. The psychophysical relationship between the two kinds of perceptive variables and test and inducing luminance followed distinctly different functions. The luminous/black variable varied linearly with contrast over a large range, as previously found for achromatic colors. The contrast gain of the luminous/black variable for the red and green colors was the same as for achromatic colors. The gain for the blue colors was twice the gain for the other colors. The chromatic variables were primarily related to the local luminance. For a given test luminance they were maximal near zero contrast. They followed the same function as the white component of achromatic colors. It is suggested that the luminous/black variable is related to spectrally broadband cells with a strong center/surround antagonism, while the chromatic variables and white are related to cells that lack a spectrally broadband surround in their receptive field.

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
D011601 Psychophysics The science dealing with the correlation of the physical characteristics of a stimulus, e.g., frequency or intensity, with the response to the stimulus, in order to assess the psychologic factors involved in the relationship. Psychophysic
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
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

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