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After‐images on backgrounds of different luminance: a new phenomenon and a hypothesis
Author(s) -
Carpenter R. H. S.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1972.sp010005
Subject(s) - luminance , brightness , stimulus (psychology) , phenomenon , physics , intensity (physics) , optics , psychology , mathematics , cognitive psychology , quantum mechanics
1. After‐images may be caused to vanish suddenly and reversibly by viewing them against a background of suitable luminance I e . 2. The value of I e at any moment is not related to any parameter (intensity, colour, duration, time) describing the stimulus that caused the after‐image. 3. On the other hand, I e is very closely related to the immediate adaptational history of the eye, so that viewing a dark background for a few seconds lowers, and a light one raises, the value of I e . 4. It is suggested that the signal conveying sensations of relative brightness in this situation is related to the rate of change of concentration of an intermediate photo‐product decaying spontaneously with a time constant of some 14 sec.