title: Estimating the critical duration for temporal summation of standard achromatic perimetric stimuli.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the critical duration of temporal summation for achromatic Goldmann III stimuli under the conditions of standard automated perimetry (SAP) and quantify response variability for short-duration stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contrast thresholds were gathered using the method of constant stimuli for seven circular (0.48° diameter) incremental stimuli of varying duration (sum-of-frames equivalent: 8.3-198.3 ms), at an eccentricity of 8.8° along the four principal meridians of the visual field in two healthy, psychophysically experienced observers. Stimuli were presented on a high-resolution cathode ray tube display with a background luminance of 10 cd/m(2). Psychometric functions were fitted using a probit model and nonparametric local-linear analysis. The critical duration was estimated using iterative two-phase regression analysis, the results also being compared with values produced using previously published methods of analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median critical duration estimated using iterative two-phase regression analysis was 27.7 ms (IQR 22.5-29.8). A slight steepening of the psychometric function slope (lower variability) was observed for longer stimulus durations, using both probit and local-linear analysis techniques, but this was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Critical duration estimates in this study are substantially shorter than those previously reported for a Goldmann III stimulus, under the conditions of SAP. Further work is required to firmly establish the relationship between measurement variability and the degree of local temporal and spatial summation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pádraig J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Garway-Heath
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Margarita B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zlatkova
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011601:Psychophysics / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: measurement variability; perimetry; temporal summation