Very-long-term chromatic adaptation: test of gain theory and a new method.
This research had two goals. First, a new method of very-long-term chromatic adaptation was compared to an older method of long-wavelength ambient illumination. In the new method, the observer viewed for 1 h per day for 12 or 14 days a CRT screen composed of oriented lines that appeared red. One observer also replicated a previous procedure (Neitz et al., 2002) in which she was exposed to long-wavelength room illumination for 4 h per day for 14 days. For both methods, equilibrium yellow was measured each day about 20 h after the end of the adaptation period. Both methods of very-long-term chromatic adaptation gave similar results. Second, shifts in equilibrium yellow were measured over a 30:1 range of light levels to determine if changes in color percepts were explained solely by a gain change in cone sensitivities (von Kries coefficient law). The magnitude of shift of equilibrium yellow depended on the level of the test light, which was not consistent with a gain theory of very-long-term chromatic adaptation.
Belmore
Suzanne C
SC
Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. sbelmore@midway.uchicago.edu
Shevell
Steven K
SK
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D012016:Reference Values; D012107:Research Design; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015349:Vision, Monocular