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Sensitivity loss and adaptation within the short‐wavelength cone pathway
Author(s) -
Finkelstein Marcia A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
color research and application
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.393
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1520-6378
pISSN - 0361-2317
DOI - 10.1002/col.5080180310
Subject(s) - sensitivity (control systems) , adaptation (eye) , subtraction , optics , wavelength , flash (photography) , physics , intensity (physics) , nonlinear system , materials science , mathematics , arithmetic , quantum mechanics , electronic engineering , engineering
Two‐color increment threshold data are used to develop a model of sensitivity control in short‐wavelength detection. The model includes two sites of compressive nonlinearity. The first site has the characteristics of the S cones. Their output combines antagonistically with signals from the L and M cones at a second (blue/yellow opponent) stage. The response nonlinearities were examined by measuring thresholds for a 420‐nm probe presented at the onset of flashed fields of 420‐nm, 520‐nm, and 580‐nm light. Adaptive mechanisms of multiplication and subtraction were identified by presenting probe and flash on steady backgrounds of varying intensity. Adaptation partially restores the sensitivity lost to response compression.