title: Time-course of S-cone system adaptation to simple and complex fields.
abstract: We examine the temporal nature of adaptation at different stages of the S-cone color system. All lights were restricted to the S-cone-only (a constant L and M) cardinal axis in color space passing through mid-white (W). The observer initially adapted to a steady uniform field with a chromaticity on the -S end of the axis or on the +S end of the axis or a complex field composed of chromaticy -S and +S (+/-S adaptation). The observer then readapted to a steady uniform field of chromaticity W for a variable length of time (i.e., 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 s). A probe-flash technique was used to measure S-cone discrimination at various points along the S-cone-only cardinal axis. This allowed estimation of the response of the S-cone system over an extended response range. Following exposure to the -S and +S uniform fields, sensitivity was maximal at or near the chromaticity of the initial adaptation field and decreased linearly away from the adapting point. The shift from +S to W occurred more rapidly than the shift from -S to W; both of these shifts can be described by a multiplicative scaling of the S-cone signal. Following +/-S adaptation the threshold curve initially had a shape similar to that measured following -S adaptation, but returned rapidly to the W adaptation state. The shift following +/-S adaptation cannot be described by the multiplicative model, but can be explained by a change in the shape of the non-linearity. The results suggest the existence of fast post-receptoral processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA. shapiro@bucknell.edu
authors.forename: Arthur G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Beere
authors.forename: Qasim
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011601:Psychophysics; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*