Effects of ageing on postreceptoral short-wavelength gain control: transient tritanopia increases with age.
We investigated the effect of ageing on the neural gain control in the short-wavelength opponent channel. In order to tackle specifically postreceptoral changes, we determined the effect of ageing on transient tritanopia, a paradoxical and transient reduction of short-wavelength sensitivity after the presentation of a long-wavelength adapting light. The results demonstrate an unexpected and significant increase of transient tritanopia with age, which cannot be explained by a general decline of short-wave sensitivity or the selective reduction of retinal illumination. Instead, our data imply that ageing affects also short-wavelength gain control at the site of chromatic opponency or beyond. Age-related changes of adaptation processes should therefore be considered an important factor influencing the visual performances of the elderly.
Werner
A
A
Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. annette.werner@uni-tuebingen.de
Bayer
A
A
Schwarz
G
G
Zrenner
E
E
Paulus
W
W
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult