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Achromatic luminance contrast sensitivity in X-linked color-deficient observers: An addition to the debate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2013

MÁRTA JANÁKY ,
JUDIT BORBÉLY ,
GYÖRGY BENEDEK ,
BALÁZS PÉTER KOCSIS  and
GÁBOR BRAUNITZER
MÁRTA JANÁKY
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
JUDIT BORBÉLY
Affiliation:
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
GYÖRGY BENEDEK
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
BALÁZS PÉTER KOCSIS
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
GÁBOR BRAUNITZER*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
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Abstract

It is a matter of debate whether X-linked dichromacy is accompanied by enhanced achromatic processing. In the present study, we used sinusoidally modulated achromatic gratings under photopic conditions to compare the contrast sensitivity (CS) of protanopes, deuteranopes, and normal trichromats. 36 male volunteers were examined. CS was tested in static and dynamic conditions at nine different spatial frequencies. The results support the assumption that X-linked color-defective observers are at an advantage in terms of achromatic processing. Both protanopes and deuteranopes had significantly better CS than controls in both the static and the dynamic conditions. In the static condition, the advantage was observed especially at higher spatial frequencies, whereas in the dynamic condition, it was seen also at lower frequencies. The results are interpreted in terms of decreased chromatic modulation of the luminance channel and the early plasticity of the parvocellular system.

Keywords

PsychophysicsColor visionDichromacyContract sensitivityPlasticity
Type
Brief Communication
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 99 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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