title: Spectral sensitivity, photopigments, and color vision in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
abstract: Behavioral discrimination tests and electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry were used to measure spectral sensitivity and to define the spectral mechanisms of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). Results from these 2 approaches converge to indicate that guinea pig retinas contain rods with peak sensitivity of about 494 nm and 2 classes of cone having peak sensitivities of about 429 nm and 529 nm. The presence of 2 classes of cones suggests a retinal basis for a color vision capacity. Behavioral tests of color vision were conducted that verified this prediction: Guinea pigs have dichromatic color vision with a spectral neutral point centered at about 480 nm. The cone pigment complement of the guinea pig is different from that known to characterize other rodents.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106.
authors: G H
authors: GH
authors: Jacobs
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Deegan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012243:Rhodopsin