A given visual field location has a wide range of perceptive field sizes.
Increment thresholds were measured at the intersections of a modified Hermann Grid at several retinal locations and at photopic, mesopic and scotopic adaptation levels. On a concentric perceptive field explanation of the illusion, these results suggest that a broad distribution of perceptive field sizes exists at each visual field location. The peak of this distribution lies close to the previously reported perceptive field size at that location. As the adaptation level decreases, the distribution shifts upwards in size. At scotopic levels lateral inhibition only occurs for large stimuli. The size distribution can be used to account for the spatial extent of some contrast phenomena.
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014794:Visual Fields; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*