title: Motion nulls for white versus isochromatic gratings in infants and adults.
abstract: The relative sensitivity of infants and adults to luminance modulations of 2.6-cd/m2, 0.3-cycle/deg broadband isochromatic red, green, or blue test gratings was measured with a motion-nulling technique. Optokinetic nystagmus was used as the response measure. Each test grating was pitted against a standard, 2.6-cd/m2, 50%-contrast white grating, and the contrast of the test grating required for a motion null was determined. The results were similar for both age groups. Both infants and adults required approximately 50% contrast in the red and green gratings, but only about 25% contrast in the blue grating, to produce a motion null. Quantitative analysis of the results suggests that a peripheral photopic luminance mechanism, with or without a small scotopic contribution, controls optokinetic nystagmus responses in all subjects under these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Teller
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lindsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods*