Duration thresholds for chromatic stimuli

Abstract

The duration necessary to detect chromatic stimuli was measured for wavelengths between 463 and 620 nm. Stimuli were presented either in hue substitution (replacement of white by a chromatic stimulus of matched luminance) or as increments. Two observers viewed a 1° 45′ homogeneous white field. A trial consisted of replacement of the central 40′ of the field by a chromatic stimulus. In substitution mode the white field was 2.4 cd/m²; the chromatic replacement was of matched luminance using heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). In increment mode, the white field was decreased to 1.2 cd/m²; the chromatic replacement remained at 2.4 cd/m². In substitution mode, duration threshold varied from approximately 3–4 ms for the spectral extremes to 45–66 ms at 570 nm. Detected stimuli were always seen as a change in chromaticity. In increment mode, thresholds were in the 2–4 ms range with no dependence upon spectral composition. Detected stimuli were seen either as changes in chromaticity or brightness. A control experiment indicated that HFP did establish equivalent luminance for the hue substitution mode. We conclude that duration thresholds in substitution mode reveal chromatic processing channels; duration thresholds in increment mode are mediated by chromatic and/or achromatic processing channels.