Effect of spectral flash on readaptation time.
The effects of an adapting flash of different colors on human vision were investigated with various flashes and target luminances. The readaptation time (RAT) was measured using optokinetic nystagmus elicited by a projected moving striped pattern in a hemisphere. The RATs were recorded from 26 subjects with a multichannel pen recorder. Two target luminances (1.1 X 10(-5) cd/m2 and 2.6 X 10(-5) cd/m2) and 12 flash wavelengths (449 nm, 456 nm, 468 nm, 477 nm, 498 nm, 502 nm, 520 nm, 565 nm, 580 nm, 591 nm, 622 nm, and 703 nm) were used. A spectral RAT curve was obtained, which showed that the chromatic response of RAT follows this order: green greater than blue greater than yellow greater than red. A larger influence of the variation of the target luminance on the RAT was demonstrated at shorter wavelengths. The results also showed that the energy density of the flash has a larger variation with the RAT in blue and green than in red.