0000000000154269
AUTHOR
Christoph Von Campenhausen
Color and lightness constancy in different perceptual tasks
Color and lightness constancy with respect to changing illumination was studied with three different perceptual tasks: ranking of colored papers according (1) to their lightness and (2) to their chromatic similarity in photopic, mesopic, and scotopic states of adaptation, and (3) recognition of remembered colored papers after changes of illumination in photopic vision. Constancy was found in the second task, only. Excitations of light receptors and luminance channels were computed to simulate the empirical rank orders. Results of the first task can be predicted with the hypothesis that luminance channels are activated, if lightness is asked for. Sequences arranged with respect to chromatic …
100 Years of Benham's Top in Colour Science
For 100 years Benham's top has been a popular device demonstrating pattern-induced flicker colours (PIFCs). Results of early and recent investigations on PIFCs are reported and show that the phenomenon originates in phase-sensitive lateral interactions of modulated neural activity in the retina followed by additional spatial interactions in the visual cortex behind the locus of binocular fusion. Colour matches with normal colour stimuli indicate that S/(M + L) opponent neurons are involved. Dichromats do not find matching stimuli for all PIFCs. PIFCs may become useful in medical diagnosis. The phenomenon is interpreted as a side effect of a neural mechanism providing colour constancy under…
Understanding color vision, with comments on mind and matter
Much is known about the mental and physical aspects of color vision. Color vision, therefore, is a paradigm well suited for the discussion of the relationship between mind and matter. The aim of the present chapter is to support the proposition that mental affairs cannot be adequately understood if their neurobiological aspects are neglected. Although it is possible to focus on fundamental problems of general relevance when discussing mind and matter, this chapter will deal with specific observations rather than general issues. The possibility of generalizations derived from empirical results is always limited. Provided the conditions under which these observations were made can be confirme…
Color induction via non-opponent lateral interactions in the human retina
Retinal connections causing colors in Benham's top (pattern induced flicker colors, PIFCs) are investigated by psychophysical experiments. PIFCs are still seen when stimuli to different cones are demodulated selectively, indicating the involvement of non-opponent channels. PIFCs also occur on retinal areas next to those affected by modulated stimuli; further, both monochromat and dark-adapted trichromats perceive PIFCs which are achromatic. These additional findings point to horizontal cells as neuronal mediators of modulated excitation leading to PIFCs. The unspecifity of the postulated connection with respect to cone types agrees with anatomic findings of Boycott, B. B., Hopkins, J. M. an…