Summary
Light-difference thresholds were measured in the center and periphery of the visual field at photopic and scotopic levels. Under photopic conditions the fovea has the lowest light-difference threshold. From the fovea to 10 degrees eccentricity threshold gradually increases. It remains constant up to approximately 35 degrees eccentricity in the temporal visual field (nasal retina). Beyond the edge of this plateau of constant light-difference threshold, it again increases to the limit of the visual field. Under scotopic conditions the extent of the plateau of constant light-difference threshold remains the same as under photopic conditions. The fovea itself, however, and its immediate environment are less sensitive than the plateau area.
Subjective brightness of a supra-threshold target is not dependent on its position in the visual field. A target with a given luminance will elicit the same brightness sensation at all retinal positions. As a consequence of this brightness constancy throughout the visual field, peripheral targets at threshold appear brighter than foveal targets at threshold because a peripheral target at threshold has more luminance than a foveal target at threshold.
Zusammenfassung
Die Inkrementalschwelle wurde in der Fovea und in der Peripherie des Gesichtsfeldes bei photopischen und skotopischen Adaptationsbedingungen gemessen. Bei photopischen Bedingungen ist die Schwelle in der Fovea am geringsten (größte Sensitivität). Von der Fovea bis etwa 10 Grad in die Peripherie nimmt die Inkrementalschwelle allmählich zu. Die Schwelle bleibt dann konstant bis etwa 35 Grad im temporalen Gesichtsfeld (nasale Retina) und bis etwa 20 Grad im nasalen Gesichtsfeld (temporale Retina). Jenseits dieses Plateaus konstanter Sensitivität nimmt die Schwelle wieder zu, bis schließlich das Ende des Gesichtsfeldes erreicht wird. Bei skotopischen Adaptationsbedingungen wurde dieselbe Ausdehnung des Plateaus konstanter Schwelle im temporalen und nasalen Gesichtsfeld beobachtet. Die Fovea und die unmittelbare Umgebung der Fovea haben bei skotopischen Bedingungen eine geringere Sensitivität.
Die subjektive Helligkeit überschwelliger Reize ist nicht abhängig von der Lage des Lichtreizes im Gesichtsfeld. Ein überschwelliger Reiz mit gegebener Intensität hat überall im Gesichtsfeld dieselbe subjektive Helligkeit. Als Konsequenz der Konstanz der Helligkeit im Gesichtsfeld erscheinen Schwellenreize in der Peripherie heller als Schwellenreize im Fovea-nahen Bereich, da die Lichtintensität für Schwellenreize in der Peripherie größer ist als im Fovea-nahen Bereich.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aubert, Foerster: Beiträge zur Kenntnis des indirekten Sehens. Arch. Ophthal 3, 1–67 (1857).
Aulhorn, E.: Über die Beziehung zwischen Lichtsinn und Sehschärfe. Albrecht v. Graefes Arch. Ophthal. 167, 4–74 (1964).
Aulhorn, E., Harms, H.: Visual perimetry. Jameson, D., Hurvich, L. M. (Eds.) Handbook of sensory physiology, Vol. VII/4: Visual psychophysics, p. 102–145. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1972.
Braitenberg, V., Hauser-Holschuh, H.: Patterns of projection in the visual system of the fly. II. Quantitative aspects of second order neurons in relation to models of movement perception. Exp. Brain Res. 16, 184–209 (1972).
Creutzfeldt, O., Pöppel, E., Singer, W.: Quantitativer Ansatz zur Analyse der funktionellen Organisation des visuellen Cortex (Untersuchungen an Primaten). Grüsser, O.-J., Klinke, R. (Eds.): Zeichenerkennung durch biologische und technische Systeme, p. 81–96. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Crozier, W. J., Holway, A. H.: Theory and measurement of visual mechanisms. I. A visual discriminometer. II. Threshold stimulus intensity and retinal position. J. gen. Physiol. 22, 341–364 (1939).
Dobrowolsky, W., Gaine, A.: Über die Sehschärfe (Formsinn) an der Peripherie der Netzhaut. Arch. ges. Physiol. 12, 411–432 (1876).
Ferree, E. E., Rand, G., Hardy, C.: An important factor in space perception in the peripheral field of vision. Amer. J. Psychol. 45, 228–247 (1933).
Frost, D., Pöppel, E.: Programming of saccadic eye movements as a function of stimulus eccentricity. Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego 1973.
Harvey, L. O., Jr., Pöppel, E.: Contrast sensitivity of the human retina. Amer. J. Optom. 49, 748–753 (1972).
Hubel, D. H., Wiesel. T. N.: Receptive fields of single neurones in the cat's striate cortex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 148, 574–591 (1959).
Hubel, D. H., Wiesel, T. N.: Receptive fields of optic nerve fibers in the spider monkey. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 154, 572–580 (1960).
Hubel, D. H., Wiesel, T. N.: Integrative action in the cat's lateral geniculate body. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 155, 385–398 (1961).
Hubel, D. H., Wiesel, T. N.: Receptive fields and functional architecture in two-nonstriate visual areas (18 and 19) of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 229–289 (1965)
Hubel, D. H., Wiesel, T. N.: Receptive fields and functional architecture of monkey striate cortex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 195, 215–243 (1968).
Jay, B. S.: The effective pupillary area at varying perimetric angles. Vision Res. 1, 418–424 (1961).
Kishto, B. N.: Variation of the visual threshold with retinal location. Pt. 1. The central 20 degrees of visual field. Vision Res. 10, 745–767 (1970).
Kuffler, S. W.: Discharge patterns and functional organization of mammalian retina. J. Neurophysiol. 16, 37–68 (1953).
Le Grand, Y.: Light, color and vision. London: Chapman & Hall 1957.
Leibowitz, H. W., Johnson, C. A., Isabelle, E.: Peripheral motion detection and refractive error. Science 177, 1207–1208 (1972).
Marks, L. E.: Brightness as a function of retinal locus. Perception and Psychophysics 1, 335–341 (1966).
Marks, L. E.: Brightness as a function of retinal locus in the light-adapted eye. Vision Res. 8, 525–535 (1968).
Østerberg, G.: Topography of the layer of rods and cones in the human retina. Acta ophthal. (Kbh.) Suppl. 6–10, p. 11–96 (1935).
Pöppel, E.: Apparent brightness in the peripheral visual field. Naturwissenschaften 60, 110 (1973).
Riopelle, A. J., Bevan, W., Jr.: The distribution of scotopic sensitivity in human vision. Amer. J. Psychol. 66, 73–80 (1953).
Senders, J. W., Webb, I. B., Baker, C. A.: The peripheral viewing of dials. J. appl. Psychol. 39, 433–436 (1955).
Singer, W., Creutzfeldt, O. D.: Reciprocal lateral inhibition of on- and off-center neurons in the lateral geniculate body of the cat. Exp. Brain Res. 10, 311–330 (1970).
Singer, W., Pöppel, E., Creutzfeldt, O.: Inhibitory interactions in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus. Exp. Brain Res. 14, 210–226 (1972).
Sloan, L. L.: The threshold gradients of the rods and cones in the dark-adapted and in the partially light-adapted eye. Amer. J. Ophthal. 33, 1077–1089 (1950).
Sloan, L. L.: The Tübinger perimeter of Harms and Aulhorn. Arch. Ophthal. 86, 612–622 (1971).
Spring, K. H., Stiles, W. S.: Apparent shape and size of the pupil viewed obliquely. Brit. J. Ophthal. 32, 347–354 (1948).
Zigler, M. J., Wolf, E.: Uniocular and binocular scotopic parafoveal sensitivity. Amer. J. Psychol. 71, 186–198 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
For Jürgen Aschoff's 60th Birthday.
E.P. was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, L. O. H. by the Sloan Foundation. L. O. H. is Assistant Professor of Physiology and Physiological Optics at the Massachusetts College of Optometry and Research Associate at the Department of Psychology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This paper is based on presentations by both authors at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in Boston, April 27–29, 1972.
The authors would like to thank Drs. E. Bizzi, H. Leibowitz and H.-L. Teuber for their critical reading of the manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pöppel, E., Harvey, L.O. Light-difference threshold and subjective brightness in the periphery of the visual field. Psychol. Forsch. 36, 145–161 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424967
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424967