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Effect of contrast on detection of motion of chromatic and luminance targets: retina-relative and object-relative movement.

It is now clear, contrary to previous conclusions, that motion may be conveyed by purely chromatic stimuli. The question considered here is how the mechanisms for assessing motion of luminance and chromatic stimuli differ. The dependence on contrast of amplitude thresholds for the perception of oscillatory motion was measured. The targets were Gabor patches modulated either chromatically along the L-M isoluminant axis or in luminance. When single targets were presented, the slope of the function relating log threshold amplitude to log contrast was approximately -0.50 for chromatic targets and 0.00 for luminance targets. When a reference target was present the slopes were approximately -0.50 for both types of target. The results imply that perception of motion of chromatic targets is based on the assessment of changes in relative position of target elements while motion of luminance targets may be signalled either by relative motion of target elements or by local motion of an image relative to the retina.

Color Perception↗

Superposition of chromatic error and beam broadening in transmission electron microscopy of thick carbon and organic specimens.

The chromatic error is calculated using our scattering cross sections obtained from contrast experiments and a distribution function of energy losses from Misell and Burge. The assumed ratio of total inelastic and elastic cross sections was 3.5. Monte-Carlo calculations were performed for the multiple scattering problem of thick carbon specimens using these values for single scattering. As expected, a minimum confusion of the chromatic error disc exists at underfocusing. The half width broadening of an edge is in good agreement with experiments at 100 keV if the experimental method of determining the half width is also taken into consideration theoretically. The lateral displacements of electron paths normal to the direction of the electron incidence, which give rise to poorer resolution at the bottom of a thick specimen in scanning transmission electron microscopy, cannot simply be added to the chromatic error in the normal mode of transmission electron microscopy. Calculations show that there is no difference in edge resolution at 100 keV to be expected, in agreement with experiment. With increasing energy, the influence of beam broadening increases relative to the chromatic error. Considering only the chromatic error (1-2 nm), at 1 MeV and optimum defocus details on the top of a 2 micron specimen will be imaged with nearly twice the value of edge half width as they will at the bottom.

Carbon↗

Chromatic properties of neurons in macaque MT.

We have studied the responses of MT neurons to moving gratings, spatially modulated in luminance and chromaticity. Most MT neurons responded briskly and with high contrast sensitivity to targets whose luminance was modulated, with or without added chromatic contrast. When luminance modulation was removed and only chromatic stimulation was used, the responses of all MT neurons were attenuated. Most were completely unresponsive to stimulation with targets whose modulation fell within a "null" plane in color space; these null planes varied from neuron to neuron, but all lay close to the plane of constant photometric luminance. For about a third of the neurons, there was no color direction in which responses were completely abolished; almost all of these neurons had a definite minimum response for chromatic modulation near the isoluminant plane. MT neurons that responded to isoluminant targets did so inconsistently and with poor contrast sensitivity, so that only intensely modulated targets were effective. Whereas the best thresholds of MT neurons for luminance targets are close to behavioral contrast threshold, the thresholds for isoluminant targets lie considerably above behavioral contrast threshold. Therefore, although some MT neurons do give responses to isoluminant targets, they are unlikely to be the source of the chromatic motion signals revealed behaviorally.

Animals↗

The effects of luminance and chromatic background flicker on the human visual evoked potential.

Previous studies report that background luminance flicker, which is asynchronous with signal averaging, reduces the amplitude and increases the latency of the pattern-onset visual evoked potential (VEP). This effect has been attributed to saturation of the magnocellular (m-) pathway by the flicker stimulus. In the current study, we evaluate this hypothesis and further characterize this effect. We found that flicker had similar effects on the pattern-onset and pattern-reversal VEP, suggesting that the reversal and onset responses have similar generators. Chromatic flicker decreased latency of the chromatic VEP whereas luminance flicker increased peak latency to luminance targets. This result indicates that luminance flicker saturates a rapidly conducting m-pathway whereas chromatic flicker saturates a more slowly conducting parvocellular (p-) pathway. Finally, evoked potentials to chromatic and luminance stimuli were recorded from 34 electrodes over the scalp in the presence of static and asynchronously modulated backgrounds. An equivalent dipole model was used to assess occipital, parietal, and temporal lobe components of the surface response topography. Results showed that chromatic flicker reduced activity to a greater extent in the ventral visual pathway whereas luminance flicker reduced activity to a greater extent in the dorsal visual pathway to parietal lobe. We conclude that the VEP to isoluminant color and luminance stimuli contains both m- and p-pathway components. Asynchronous flicker can be used to selectively reduce the contribution of these pathways to the surface recorded VEP. Our results provide evidence of parallel pathways in the human visual system, with a dorsal luminance channel projecting predominantly to the posterior parietal lobe and a ventral color channel projecting predominantly to inferior temporal lobe.

Adult↗

Influence of motion on chromatic detection.

Intense scrutiny has been focused on whether chromatic stimuli contribute to motion perception. The present study considers a related but different question: how does motion affect chromatic detection? Detection thresholds were measured for a disk that underwent a brief (13.3 ms) chromatic change in the L/(L+M) chromatic direction. The disk's presentation sequence and speed (0-16 deg/s) were manipulated. In the coherent presentation sequence, the disk moved smoothly along a circular path centered on the fixation point. In the random presentation sequence, the disk appeared randomly at positions along the circular path. In both types of sequences, the disk underwent a brief chromatic change midway through the temporal presentation sequence. Threshold was elevated in the coherent condition compared to the random condition, and threshold decreased with an increase in speed. The threshold elevation observed in the coherent presentation sequence can be accounted for by temporal integration. The decrease in threshold with an increase in speed can be accounted for by spatial integration. The results, therefore, can be explained by spatiotemporal integration, without invoking a neural mechanism specialized for motion.

Color Perception↗

Chromatic adaptation, perceived location, and color tuning properties.

We have studied the influence of chromatic adaptation upon the perceived visual position of a test stimulus using a Vernier alignment task. Maximum and minimum offsets in spatial position are generated when the adapting and test stimuli lie on the same and orthogonal axes in MBDKL color space, respectively. When the test stimuli lie on intermediate color axes, the measured positional shifts decrease as a function of the angular separation in color space (phi) from the adapting stimulus. At low stimulus contrasts, these shifts follow a sinusoidal function of phi and exhibit broad chromatic tuning and can be accounted for by a model in which the centroid is extracted from the linear combination of after-image, formed by the adapting stimulus, and the test stimulus. Such linear, broadband behavior is consistent with the response properties of chromatic neurons in the precortical visual pathway. At high contrast, and when adaptation gets closer to the S/(L+M) axis, the tuning functions become narrower and require sinusoids raised to increasingly higher exponents in order to describe the data. This narrowing of chromatic tuning is consistent with the tuning properties of chromatic neurons in the striate cortex, and implies the operation of a nonlinear mechanism in the combination of cone outputs.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

Motion adaptation in chromatic motion-onset visual evoked potentials.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of motion adaptation on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) elicited by the onset of isoluminant chromatic motion. VEPs were recorded from the occipital cortex of human subjects using a sinusoidal grating stimulus of one cycle per degree which moved at either a velocity of 2 or 10 degrees/s and subtended a field of 7 degrees with a mean luminance of 30 cdm(-2). In the first experiment the effects of adaptation were investigated via the manipulation of the stimulus duty cycle which was varied between 11-90%. The results showed a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the N2-P2 amplitude of the chromatic response. In contrast, P1-N2 amplitude was not significantly affected by motion adaptation. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the chromatic motion onset VEP was attenuated not only following adaptation to isoluminant chromatic motion, but also to luminance motion as well. These results indicate that the chromatic motion onset VEP is just as susceptible as its luminance counterpart to motion after effects (MAEs) and as a result it is highly likely that it is a motion specific response. Furthermore, the fact that the VEP shows that there are cross-adaptation effects between motion defined by change in colour and by change in luminance, suggests that the two types of motion stimuli have inputs into a common motion mechanism.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

An efficient algorithm for measurement and correction of chromatic aberrations in fluorescence microscopy.

Even the best optical microscopes available on the market exhibit chromatic aberrations to some extent. In some types of study, chromatic aberrations of current optics cannot be neglected and a software correction is highly desirable. This paper describes a novel method of chromatic aberration measurement and software correction using sub-resolution bead imaging and computer image analysis. The method is quick, precise and enables the determination of both longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations. Correction function can be computed in about half an hour, including image acquisition. Using this approach, chromatic aberrations can be reduced to 10-20 nm laterally and 10-60 nm axially depending on the type of optical set-up. The method is especially suitable for fluorescence microscopy, where a limited number of wavelengths are observed.

Journal Article↗

Moving stimuli define the shape of stationary chromatic patterns.

A study is reported of phenomena involved in perceptually unified organisation of a stationary chromatic pattern and a moving black outline or dot pattern. When the corners of the outline pattern were temporally oscillated on a stationary chromatic square, the chromatic border appeared to follow the moving outline, as if captured by it. This capture effect was also observed with moving dots: the chromatic border was defined by an imaginary line connecting the moving dots. Both capture effects occur over a region that becomes wider with increasing velocity of the oscillation. These observations suggest that the visual system effectively uses information from moving features to define the shape of overlapping chromatic image regions.

Color Perception↗

Immunomodulatory effects of Premna tomentosa (L. Verbenaceae) extract in J 779 macrophage cell cultures under chromate (VI)-induced immunosuppression.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the immunomodulatory effects of Premna tomentosa extract against chromate (VI)-induced toxicity was assessed in J 779 macrophage cell line. DESIGN: The cells were analyzed for cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, oxidant burst, antioxidant status, and cell proliferation. RESULT: Chromate treatment resulted in a significant increase in cytotoxicity and free radical production. Furthermore, there is a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx). There was an appreciable decrease in cell proliferation and phagocytosis by macrophages in the presence of chromate. However, pretreatment of the cells with P. tomentosa extract (500 microg concentration), 30 minutes prior to chromate (VI) treatment resulted in a significant inhibition of chromate-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species production. The extract also restored the antioxidant status, cell proliferation, and phagocytosis similar to that of control cells. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the cytoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of the leaves of P. tomentosa and its possible usage in immunosuppressed conditions.

Animals↗

Chromatic imbalance due to commonly used red-green filters reduces accuracy of stereoscopic depth perception.

This study was designed to determine the effect on stereopsis of interocular retinal chromatic and illuminance imbalance in 30 subjects with normal binocularity. A Randot 3 Circle Stereotest, viewed through polarizing glasses only, was the control condition. In each of three additional conditions, illuminance and chromatic imbalances were created by commonly used red and green filters and neutral density filters combined with the polarizing filters. The effect of each of these experimental conditions on stereopsis was determined by comparing total stereo judgement errors on the Randot Circle Stereotest for each condition to the control condition. Total average flux through the filter combinations was held constant by adjusting the luminance level of light reflected from the target. The chromatic imbalance created by the red-green filters significantly increased the number of stereo judgment errors (37%, p less than 0.05). However, illuminance imbalance (0.2 log units) of the magnitude created by the red-green filters did not significantly increase the number of errors (2.9%, p less than 0.65). Finally, the combined illuminance and chromatic imbalance created by the red-green filters significantly increased the error frequency (46%, p less than 0.05). The chromatic imbalance caused by red-green glasses significantly degrades stereopsis, whereas the illuminance imbalance caused by these filters has no significant effect on stereopsis.

Adolescent↗

Chromatic contrast thresholds as a prognostic test for visual improvement after macular hole surgery: color vision and macular hole surgery outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between preoperative chromatic contrast thresholds, postoperative visual acuities (VA), and visual improvement after macular hole surgery. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients with Stage II to IV macular holes was studied before macular hole surgery. Preoperative chromatic contrast thresholds, VA, and reading acuity were analyzed in relation to the postoperative visual function. The chromatic contrast thresholds were measured using a computerized cathode ray tube-based system along red-green and tritan confusion axes. RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative chromatic contrast thresholds were elevated significantly in affected eyes (P < 0.001). Preoperative VA showed a strong correlation with postoperative VA (r = 0.66, P < 0.001) but a weak correlation with visual improvement (r = -0.33, P = 0.03). Red-green contrast threshold correlated strongly with both the distance visual improvement (r = -0.77, P < 0.001) and reading visual improvement (r = -0.61, P < 0.001). Tritan contrast threshold, however, showed a slightly weaker correlation (distance: r = -0.63, P < 0.001; reading: r = -0.47, P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chromatic contrast thresholds, especially the red-green contrast threshold, represent a better prognostic guide for visual improvement after macular hole surgery than VA measurement.

Aged↗

Visual-evoked potentials to onset of chromatic red-green and blue-yellow gratings in Parkinson's disease never treated with L-dopa.

The differential dysfunction of chromatic and achromatic visual pathways in early Parkinson's disease (PD) was evaluated by means of visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) recorded in 12 patients (mean age 60.1 +/- 8.3 years; range 46 to 74 years) in the early stages of PD and not yet undergoing treatment with L-dopa, and in 12 age-matched controls. Visual stimuli were full-field (14 deg) equiluminant red-green (R-G), blue-yellow (B-Y), and black-white (B-W) sinusoidal gratings of two cycles per degree, presented in onset (300 milliseconds)--offset (700 milliseconds) mode, at two contrast (K) levels (90% and 25%). The VEP mean latencies were significantly more delayed in PD patients than in controls for chromatic than for luminance stimuli, in particular for B-Y stimuli of low contrast (K90%: B-W = 6.6 milliseconds, R-G = 3.34 milliseconds, B-Y = 15.48 milliseconds; K25%: B-W = 7.8 milliseconds, R-G = 14.8 milliseconds, B-Y = 28.9). Latencies of chromatic VEPs were more variable that achromatic VEP latencies in both normal subjects and PD patients. Therefore, the frequency of latency abnormalities (within 30%) was not significantly different for the three visual stimuli. Our results show that, in addition to achromatic VEPs, chromatic VEPs are impaired in early PD patients not yet undergoing L-dopa therapy, indicating an acquired color deficiency in these patients. The greater delay for the B-Y VEPs suggests a higher vulnerability of visual blue-cone pathway in the early stages of the disease. However, the overall sensitivity of chromatic VEPs in detecting early visual impairment in PD is comparable with that of achromatic VEPs.

Aged↗

A linear chromatic mechanism drives the pupillary response.

Previous studies have shown that a chromatic mechanism can drive pupil responses. The aim of this research was to clarify whether a linear or nonlinear chromatic mechanism drives pupillary responses by using test stimuli of various colours that are defined in cone contrast space. The pupil and accommodation responses evoked by these test stimuli were continuously and simultaneously objectively measured by photorefraction. The results with isochromatic and isoluminant stimuli showed that the accommodative level remained approximately constant (< 0.25 D change in mean level) even when the concurrent pupillary response was large (ca. 0.30 mm). The pupillary response to an isoluminant grating was sustained, delayed (by ca. 60 ms) and larger in amplitude than that for a isochromatic uniform stimulus, which supports previous work suggesting that the chromatic mechanism contributes to the pupillary response. In a second experiment, selected chromatic test gratings were used and isoresponse contours in cone contrast space were obtained. The results showed that the isoresponse contour in cone contrast space is well described (r(2) = 0.99) by a straight line with a positive slope. The results indicate that a /L - M/ linear chromatic mechanism, whereby a signal from the long wavelength cone is subtracted from that of the middle wavelength cone and vice versa, drives pupillary responses.

Humans↗

The independence of the temporal integration properties of individual chromatic mechanisms in the human eye.

1. Since it has been shown by Stiles that the adaptive states of the primary chromatic (pi) mechanisms of the human eye vary independently and since recent theories of visual function have postulated an intimate relation between sensitivity and the temporal characteristics of the retinal response, it is asked whether the temporal integration properties of the eye depend upon the state of adaptation of the retina as a whole or vary independently for each of the chromatic mechanisms.2. It is found that the critical duration, or limit of time-intensity reciprocity, for the detection of monochromatic increments presented on monochromatic background fields depends only upon the adaptive state of the individual pi mechanism mediating the detection. Our results support the hypothesis that each chromatic mechanism has its own automatic gain control.3. At both dark-adapted and asymptotic levels the critical durations for the short wave-length mechanisms appear to be greater than those for pi(4) and pi(5).4. When 500 nm test flashes are presented on 600 nm adaptation fields, critical durations increase at high background intensities. This anomaly adds further support to the hypothesis that the critical durations of different chromatic mechanisms vary independently, since 500 nm flashes are probably detected by pi(1), rather than by pi(4), when presented on long wave-length adaptation fields of high energy.5. Our findings provide partial support for the suggestion that the Fechner-Benham subjective colours are due to differences in the time constants of the different colour mechanisms.6. It is concluded that the critical duration is principally determined at a very distal stage in the visual system before interactions occur between chromatic mechanisms.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

Screening for CMV retinitis using chromatic discrimination thresholds and achromatic contrast sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) are unaware of visual disturbance so screening is advocated for patients with HIV and low CD4 counts. Many tests of retinal function have been recommended but few are effective at detecting CMVR. We assess the potential of chromatic discrimination thresholds and achromatic contrast sensitivity as screening tests for patients with CMVR. METHOD: 11 HIV+ patients with CMVR, 16 age matched HIV+ patients, and 29 age matched controls were recruited. Visual acuity, chromatic discrimination thresholds, and achromatic contrast sensitivity were measured. Fundal examination was performed by slit lamp biomicroscopy for HIV+ patients. Those with CMVR were photographed and the CMVR graded from the photographs. RESULTS: Loss of chromatic discrimination was found in patients with CMVR (tritan p<0.0005, red/green p<0.05). The same group had deterioration in achromatic contrast sensitivity at 2.2, 3.4, and 10 cpd (p<0.05). There was correlation between the zone of CMVR with chromatic gratings (tritan r=0.83, p<0.005). No statistically significant difference was found between the HIV+ patients and the controls for all tests (p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ patients with CMVR have a loss of chromatic discrimination and achromatic contrast sensitivity and this may be used to screen HIV+ patients for CMVR.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Behavioural and electrophysiological chromatic and achromatic contrast sensitivity in an achromatopsic patient.

OBJECTIVES: In cases of incomplete achromatopsia it is unclear whether residual visual function is mediated by intact striate cortex or results from incomplete lesions to extrastriate cortical visual areas. A patient with complete cerebral achromatopsia was tested to establish the nature of his residual vision and to determine the integrity of striate cortex function. METHODS: Behavioural contrast sensitivity, using the method of adjustment, and averaged visually evoked cortical potentials were measured to sinusoidally modulated chromatic and achromatic gratings in an achromatopsic patient and a normal observer. Eye movements were measured in the patient using a Skalar infrared monitoring system. RESULTS: The patient's chromatic contrast sensitivity was normal, indicating that despite his dense colour blindness his occipital cortex still processed information about spatial variations in hue. His sensitivity to achromatic gratings was depressed particularly at high spatial frequencies, possibly because of his jerk nystagmus. These behavioural results were reinforced by the nature of visually evoked responses to chromatic and achromatic gratings, in which total colour blindness coexisted with an almost normal cortical potential to isoluminant chromatic gratings. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that information about chromatic contrast is present in some cortical areas, and coded in a colour-opponent fashion, in the absence of any perceptual experience of colour.

Adult↗

Velocity sensitivity and directional selectivity of frog retinal ganglion cells depend on chromaticity of moving stimuli.

Action potentials of single afferent optic-nerve fibers were recorded in the superficial layers of the optic tectum of frogs. Horizontally moving chromatic stimuli were applied. A large range of stimulus velocities and 2 or 3 different wavelengths (450, 500 or 580 nm) of the moving monochromatic light spots were applied. The velocity functions of class 3 neurons varied only slightly with different chromatic stimuli. About half of the neurons of our sample exhibited directional selectivity to one or two of the wavelengths investigated. In some of these neurons the directional selectivity was found over the entire velocity range studied (0.046-18.4 degrees X s-1), while in others it was also dependent upon the angular velocity of the moving chromatic spot. Thus, a new principle of chromatic-signal processing exists in frogs which has so far not been described in other animals: an interrelation between directional selectivity, chromatic composition of the stimulus and angular velocity. We concluded from these findings that the analytic properties of tectal cells, with respect to their possible function in pattern recognition, might receive insufficient description when the stimuli are restricted to the achromatic grey scale. On the other hand, we would like to stress that the peculiar properties of the retinal color channels in frogs, directional selectivity and different time constants of the recovery functions, contribute to the processing of black/white stimuli according to their shape, size and velocity, since the response to the leading edge and the trailing edge traversing the receptive field depends on these factors.

Animals↗