title: Sites of age-related sensitivity loss in a short-wave cone pathway.
abstract: The age-related losses in the sensitivity of a short-wave (S) cone mechanism were determined by measuring the threshold-versus-radiance (t.v.r.) functions for nine older (mean age, 71.0 years) and six younger (mean age, 24.4 years) subjects. Measurements were obtained for a 250-ms, 1.03 degrees-diameter, 440-nm foveally viewed test light presented on 470-nm adapting fields and on a 570-nm auxiliary field. A comparison of t.v.r. functions revealed intensity-dependent sensitivity losses in the older group. By applying a quantitative model of an S-cone pathway to the t.v.r. data obtained from the older subjects, we found that the age-related changes in the ocular media and the receptor sensitivities can account for much but not all of the difference in the sensitivity of an S-cone mechanism demonstrated by eight of our nine older subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Schefrin
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plach
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Utlaut
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Switkes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008875:Middle Aged; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds