Chromatic two-pulse resolution with and without luminance transients*

Abstract

Two-pulse discrimination thresholds determined for homochromatic pulses presented as luminance increments or decrements are invariant with wavelength. Wavelength does affect two-pulse temporal resolution if chromatic pulses are presented in hue substitution, matched in luminance (with flicker photometry) to an achromatic background field. For relatively long pulses, the wavelength effect resembles trichromatic saturation discrimination, with poorest temporal resolution at 570 nm. For shorter pulses, temporal resolution for hue substitution stimuli appears related to saturation discrimination under conditions of artificial tritanopia. Under conditions of hue substitution, short-wavelength pulses yield good temporal resolution.