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Porterfield and Wells on the motions of our eyes.

William Porterfield (ca 1969-1771) and William Charles Wells (1757-1817) conducted experimental investigations on eye movements related to accommodation, binocular vision, and vertigo. Porterfield gave a correct interpretation of Scheiner's experiment and invented an optometer to measure the near and far points of distinct vision. He also demonstrated the involvement of the crystalline lens in accommodation by examining vision in an aphakic person. Wells devised an alternative means of measuring the limits of vision and noted his own deterioration of sight with age; he studied the effects of belladonna on pupil size and accommodation. Their analyses of binocular visual direction contrasted Porterfield's view that perceived location was innately determined with Well's argument that visual direction was innate whereas visual distance was learned. Both Porterfield and Wells investigated the involvement of eye movements in binocular vision and in postrotary visual motion. Porterfield maintained that the eyes did not move following body rotation, whereas Wells, using an afterimage as stabilised retinal image, described the characteristics of postrotary nystagmus and their dependence on head orientation. Despite the neglect of Well's work, he should be considered as laying the foundations for the study of vestibular-visual interaction, even though the function of the vestibular system was not known at that time.

Eye Movements↗

On nystagmus, saccades, and fixations.

Investigations of the ways in which the eyes move came to prominence in the 19th century, but techniques for measuring them more precisely emerged in the 20th century. When scanning a scene or text the eyes engage in periods of relative stability (fixations) interspersed with ballistic rotations (saccades). The saccade-and-fixate strategy, associated with voluntary eye movements, was first uncovered in the context of involuntary eye movements following body rotation. This pattern of eye movements is now referred to as nystagmus, and involves periods of slow eye movements, during which objects are visible, and rapid returns, when they are not; it is based on a vestibular reflex which attempts to achieve image stabilisation. Post-rotational nystagmus was reported in the late 18th century (by Wells), with afterimages used as a means of retinal stabilisation to distinguish between movement of the eyes and of the environment. Nystagmus was linked to vestibular stimulation in the 19th century, and Mach, Breuer, and Crum Brown all described its fast and slow phases. Wells and Breuer proposed that there was no visual awareness during the ballistic phase (saccadic suppression). The saccade-and-fixate strategy highlighted by studies of nystagmus was shown to apply to tasks like reading by Dodge, who used more sophisticated photographic techniques to examine oculomotor kinematics. The relationship between eye movements and perception, following earlier intuitions by Wells and Breuer, was explored by Dodge, and has been of fundamental importance in the direction of vision research over the last century.

Eye Movements↗

Gaze stability of observers watching Op Art pictures.

It has been the matter of some debate why we can experience vivid dynamic illusions when looking at static pictures composed from simple black and white patterns. The impression of illusory motion is particularly strong when viewing some of the works of 'Op Artists, such as Bridget Riley's painting Fall. Explanations of the illusory motion have ranged from retinal to cortical mechanisms, and an important role has been attributed to eye movements. To assess the possible contribution of eye movements to the illusory-motion percept we studied the strength of the illusion under different viewing conditions, and analysed the gaze stability of observers viewing the Riley painting and control patterns that do not produce the illusion. Whereas the illusion was reduced, but not abolished, when watching the painting through a pinhole, which reduces the effects of accommodation, it was not perceived in flash afterimages, suggesting an important role for eye movements in generating the illusion for this image. Recordings of eye movements revealed an abundance of small involuntary saccades when looking at the Riley pattern, despite the fact that gaze was kept within the dedicated fixation region. The frequency and particular characteristics of these rapid eye movements can vary considerably between different observers, but, although there was a tendency for gaze stability to deteriorate while viewing a Riley painting, there was no significant difference in saccade frequency between the stimulus and control patterns. Theoretical considerations indicate that such small image displacements can generate patterns of motion signals in a motion-detector network, which may serve as a simple and sufficient, but not necessarily exclusive, explanation for the illusion. Why such image displacements lead to perceptual results with a group of Op Art and similar patterns, but remain invisible for other stimuli, is discussed.

Adult↗

Dark ionic flux and the effects of light in isolated rod outer segments.

We have determined the permeability properties of freshly isolated frog rod outer segments by observing their osmotic behavior in a simple continuous flow apparatus. Outer segments obtained by gently shaking a retina are sensitive but nonideal osmometers; a small restoring force prevents them from shrinking or swelling quite as much as expected for ideal behavior. We find that Na(+), Cl(-), No(3) (-), glycerol, acetate, and ammonium rapidly enter the outer segment, but K(+), SO(4) (=), and melezitose appear impermeable. The Na flux is rectified; for concentration gradients in the physiological range, 2 x 10(9) Na(+) ions/sec enter the outer segment, but we detect no efflux of Na(+), under our conditions, when the gradient is reversed. Illumination of the outer segment produces a specific increase in the resistance to Na(+) influx, but has no effect on the flux of other solutes. This light-dependent Na(+) resistance increases linearly with the number of rhodopsin molecules bleached. We find that excitation of a single rhodopsin molecule produces a transient ( approximately 1 sec) "photoresistance" which reduces the Na(+) influx by about 1%, thus preventing the entry of about 10(7) Na(+) ions. At considerably higher light levels, a stable afterimage resistance appears which reduces the Na influx by one-half when 10(6) rhodopsin molecules are bleached per rod. We have incorporated these findings into a model for the electrophysiological characteristics of the receptor.

Acetates↗

Proximal vergence and perceived distance.

Proximal vergence was measured haploscopically in response to a change in physical distance of a large screen of blurred horizontal lines. These responses were compared to proximal vergence measurements made using a clinical method. Perceived distance of the horizontal stripes was estimated according to the perceived size of a projected afterimage. For 18 normal observers the change in vergence measured haploscopically (in prism diopters per meter angle change in test distance) averaged 2.59 (SD = 1.44) binocularly and 2.11 (SD = 1.22) monocularly. Clinical measures averaged 2.88 (SD = 1.57) binocularly and 2.10 (SD = 1.27) monocularly. Haploscopic and clinical measures of proximal vergence correlated only when the clinical technique was modified by viewing through pinholes. Taking estimated perceived distance into consideration only partially reduced the differences between proximal vergence measured haploscopically and clinically as well as binocularly and monocularly. Both haploscopic and clinical measures of proximal vergence were sizeable, indicating that this vergence component can contribute significantly to the normal vergence response.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Perceived visual motion as effective stimulus to pursuit eye movement system.

Human eye tracking of a foveal afterimage during angular head oscillation in the dark produced smooth eye movements exceeding those for normal vestibular nystagmus, and a reduction in the frequency of the fast phase component of nystagmus eye movements. These results may support a closed loop extension of the corollary discharge theory, with oculomotor commands based on perceived object velocity.

Attention↗

BINOCULAR DEPTH PERCEPTION WITHOUT FAMILIARITY CUES.

The reported phenomena were obtained through the use of special techniques. (i) All monocular depth and familiarity cues were removed from the stimuli (through the use of randomdot stereo patterns). (ii) The statistical and topological properties of the stimuli were precisely known (since they were generated according to a specific computer program). (iii) Convergence motions of the eye and proprioceptive cues were eliminated (through the use of tachistoscopic illumination). (iv) The time of presentation was under control (through erasure of the persistent afterimages). Under these conditions stereopsis could be studied in its purest form. It was shown that depth can be perceived in the absence of monocular depth and familiarity cues and of all binocular depth cues except for disparity. These findings have important implications for some existing theories of stereopsis and open up areas for further research. Some phenomena based on stereo erasure are reported here for the first time. It has been demonstrated that the perception of ambiguous depth organizations can be influenced, even subliminally, by a preceding unambiguous stimulus. Perhaps the most interesting result is the finding that the correspondence of objects and patterns in the two retinal projections can be established without actual recognition of the objects and patterns. This pattern matching is based on some relatively simple processes of finding connected clusters formed by adjacent points of similar brightness, and the processes seem to be amenable to rigorous analysis.

Biomedical Research↗

Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802): neurologist.

Erasmus Darwin was the founder of evolutionary biology, a renown poet, an inventor, and a general medical practitioner. Erasmus Darwin wrote specifically about the evolutionary and phylogenetic development of the nervous system, neuroembryology, psychiatric illness (including delusions and depression), and electrical therapy for childhood hemiplegia. He conducted experiments in neuro-ophthalmology and wrote about color vision, afterimages, the blind spot, and visual memory.

England↗

Visible light-cured composites and activating units. Council on Dental Materials, Instruments, and Equipment.

In summary, visible light-activated composites offer better regulation of working time. Their composition differs from chemically activated composites only in the initiators and activators. The physical and mechanical properties of adequately polymerized photoactivated composites are similar to chemically activated composites. Depth of cure evaluations of the photoactivated composites are dependent on many factors, both experimental and inherent. There is currently no consensus on depth of cure values and evaluation methods. It is suggested that, if necessary, visible light-activated composites should be placed and polymerized in about 2-mm increments. It is prudent to use a longer exposure time. Exposure of visible light composites to dental operatory lights or strong ambient lighting (or both) during restorative procedures should be minimized to avoid premature polymerization. There are differences in design, spectral distribution, and radiation intensity of photoactivating light units. No definitive information is currently available on the effectiveness and optimal conditions for use of different light/composite combinations. Little information is currently available on the bioeffect of visible light radiation on human optical systems and oral tissue. At the present time there are reports of afterimages but no long-lasting bioeffects. It is strongly recommended that precautions should be taken in the care, use, and operation of photoactivating light units. Protective filter glasses should be used.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Accuracy of recall as a function of eidetic imagery.

90 subjects (45 boys and 45 girls) from Grades 3, 4, 5 were screened for eidetic imagery. Using Haber's criteria, 12 subjects were identified as having eidetic imagery. These subjects were randomly divided into two groups of six each with one group designated the experimental group and the other, the control group. Eidetic imagery was evoked in all subjects to the same stimuli. Members of the experimental group were tested for accuracy of recall while maintaining the images and those of the control group were tested for accuracy of recall after blinking their eyes and turning their heads to erase the images. Significantly more correct responses were given by the experimental than by the control group. Also, eidetic images were not always erased by blinking the eyes and turning the head, and eidetic images did not necessarily last longer than afterimages, as Haber has reported.

Child↗

The unidirectionality of cerebral polyopia.

Polyopia, visual perseveration in space, has been associated with seizure activity, afterimage formation, and the presence of visual field defects. It can be interpreted both as a positive and a negative visual phenomenon. A patient with polyopia associated with the acute onset of hemianopsia is presented. The phenomenon has been investigated objectively with a simple procedure. The polyopia was highly correlated to movement of the eyes into the hemianoptic visual field and to increased contrast but not duration of the stimulus. This type of polyopia could be the result of incomplete visual processing due to poor visuospatial localization in a hemianopic field.

Aged↗

Why do parallel cortical systems exist for the perception of static form and moving form?

This article analyzes computational properties that clarify why the parallel cortical systems V1----V2, V1----MT, and V1----V2----MT exist for the perceptual processing of static visual forms and moving visual forms. The article describes a symmetry principle, called FM symmetry, that is predicted to govern the development of these parallel cortical systems by computing all possible ways of symmetrically gating sustained cells with transient cells and organizing these sustained-transient cells into opponent pairs of on-cells and off-cells whose output signals are insensitive to direction of contrast. This symmetric organization explains how the static form system (static BCS) generates emergent boundary segmentations whose outputs are insensitive to direction of contrast and insensitive to direction of motion, whereas the motion form system (motion BCS) generates emergent boundary segmentations whose outputs are insensitive to direction of contrast but sensitive to direction of motion. FM symmetry clarifies why the geometries of static and motion form perception differ--for example, why the opposite orientation of vertical is horizontal (90 degrees), but the opposite direction of up is down (180 degrees). Opposite orientations and directions are embedded in gated dipole opponent processes that are capable of antagonistic rebound. Negative afterimages, such as the MacKay and waterfall illusions, are hereby explained as are aftereffects of long-range apparent motion. These antagonistic rebounds help to control a dynamic balance between complementary perceptual states of resonance and reset. Resonance cooperatively links features into emergent boundary segmentations via positive feedback in a CC loop, and reset terminates a resonance when the image changes, thereby preventing massive smearing of percepts. These complementary preattentive states of resonance and reset are related to analogous states that govern attentive feature integration, learning, and memory search in adaptive resonance theory. The mechanism used in the V1----MT system to generate a wave of apparent motion between discrete flashes may also be used in other cortical systems to generate spatial shifts of attention. The theory suggests how the V1----V2----MT cortical stream helps to compute moving form in depth and how long-range apparent motion of illusory contours occurs. These results collectively argue against vision theories that espouse independent processing modules. Instead, specialized subsystems interact to overcome computational uncertainties and complementary deficiencies, to cooperatively bind features into context-sensitive resonances, and to realize symmetry principles that are predicted to govern the development of the visual cortex.

Attention↗

Characteristics of the indirect McCollough effect.

Induction of contingent color aftereffects with a single chromatic grid sometimes results in an illusory color on a grid different from the one presented during induction. Such illusory color, contingently elicited by a noninduced grid, has been termed the indirect McCollough effect (indirect ME). We show that the indirect ME occurs only when the color complementary to the grid color is present during induction (either physically present or as a color afterimage), and that the indirect ME is seen only on gratings that are orthogonal to the induction orientation. These findings are in accord with the account of the indirect ME proposed by Humphrey, Dodwell, and Emerson (1989). We also show that characteristics of the indirect ME (seen following one-grid induction), both on induced and orthogonal orientations, are similar to those observed with the direct ME (seen following the usual two-grid induction procedure). Both procedures result in contingent aftereffects that display substantial retention and that do not display interocular transfer.

Adult↗

Limited translation invariance of human visual pattern recognition.

Visual object recognition is considered to be largely translation invariant. An earlier study (Foster & Kahn, 1985), however, has indicated that recognition of complex novel stimuli is partially specific to location in the visual field: It is significantly easier to determine the identity of two briefly displayed random patterns if both stimuli are presented at the same, rather than at different, locations. In a series of same/different discrimination tasks, we characterize the processes underlying this "displacement effect": Horizontal and vertical translations are equally effective in reducing performance. Making the task more difficult by increasing pattern similarity leads to even higher positional specificity. The displacement effect disappears after rotation or contrast reversal of the patterns, indicating that positional specificity depends on relatively low levels of processing. Control experiments rule out explanations that are independent of visual pattern memory, such as spatial attention, eye movements, or retinal afterimages. Positional specificity of recognition is found only for same trials. Our results demonstrate that position invariance, a widely acknowledged property of the human visual system, is limited to specific experimental conditions. Normalization models involving mental shifts of an early visual representation or of a window of attention cannot easily account for these findings.

Adult↗

William Charles Wells (1757-1817) and vestibular research before Purkinje and Flourens.

Vestibular research before Flourens typically involved vertigo and eye movements. In 1820 Purkinje integrated these in studies of postrotary vertigo and he is linked with Flourens as a founder of vestibular research. In the late eighteenth century Erasmus Darwin described vertigo in detail, but he did not accept that it involved an oculomotor component. Darwin reached this conclusion despite detailed experiments by William Charles Wells (1757-1817), who described the pattern of postrotary nystagmus and its dependence on head orientation during rotation. Wells generated afterimages prior to rotation and subsequently compared their motions with those of real images. He was able to distinguish between the slow and fast phases of nystagmus, its reducing amplitude following cessation of rotation, its suppression with fixation, and its torsional dimension. In many ways, Wells's experiments were more sophisticated than those of Purkinje, and he should be recognised as a founder of vestibular research. Possible reasons for the neglect of Wells's work are discussed.

England↗

[Laser pointer and laser safety standard].

BACKGROUND: In recent years, cheap laser pointers have been used as toys for children. The safety of laser pointers has become a public issue. CASES: Many cases of visual disturbance without retinal symptoms were reported, and those might be of a psychogenic nature or due to afterimage effects. However, four cases of macular retinal pigment epithelial disturbances due to radiation of a laser pointer beam were reported. One patient was affected in both eyes because of alternate laser beam radiation to both eyes. The exposure time to the laser beam exceeded 10 seconds. All cases except one were young patients. For the safety, it is important that handheld laser pointers be kept away from children. Toy type laser pointers should be treated as Class 1 laser products according to the Consumer Affairs Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Consumer Product Safety↗

[Cerebral diplopia and triplopia--a proposal for responsible lesion and mechanism].

We reported 2 cases of multiple images of cerebral origin. Case 1 was a 26-year-old right-handed woman, who showed a defect in the peripheral part of right visual field, with photopsia in the defective field, and cerebral diplopia within the perimetry-determined preserved part of the right hemifield. This was associated with a small infarction in the deep and anterior part of the area 17. The phenomenon was well-illustrated by her own detailed drawing. Case 2 was a 67-year-old right-handed man, who, following a hypoxic accident, developed monocular triplopia. MRI revealed laminar necrosis in the areas 18 and 19 bilaterally. Triplopia was reproducible when he fixed his attention upon the circumscribed afterimage given by a strobo-flash. This would serve as counterevidence against the Bender's hypothesis that this phenomenon was caused by the pseudofovea. In both cases, multiple images occurred only to objects upon which they fixed their gaze, only in the specific sector of the visual field. Both experienced diplopia and triplopia only after a few seconds of fixation. When they turned away the gaze, the extraimages disappeared. We proposed a new hypothesis for this phenomenon, i.e., it is caused by the impaired lateral inhibition, selective to the magnocellular system in the area 17 or other early visual cortices.

Adult↗