Peripheral resolution and contrast sensitivity : Effects of stimulus drift

• Optimal temporal modulation of the stimulus can improve foveal contrast sensitivity. This studyevaluates the characteristics oftheperipheral spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity function in normal-sighted subjects.The purpose is to identify a temporal modulation that can potentially improve the remaining peripheral visual function in subjects with central visual field loss. High contrast resolution cut-off for grating stimuli with four temporal frequencies (0, 5, 10 and 15 Hz drift) was first evaluated in the 10° nasal visual field.Resolution contrast sensitivity for all temporal frequencies was then measured at four spatial frequencies between 0.5 cycles per degree (cpd) and the measured stationary cut-off. All measurements were performed with eccentric optical correction. Similar to foveal vision, peripheral contrast sensitivity is highest for a combination of low spatial frequency and 5 to 10 Hz drift. At higher spatial frequencies, there was a decrease in contrast sensitivity with 15 Hz drift.Despitethis decrease, the resolution cut-off did not vary largely between the different temporal frequencies tested. ​ Additional measurements of contrast sensitivity at 0.5 cpd and resolution cut-off for stationary (0 Hz) and 7.5 Hz stimuli performed at 10, 15, 20 and 25° in the nasal visual field also showed the same characteristics across eccentricities.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Contrast sensitivity

Drifting gratings

Peripheral vision

Spatial frequency

Temporal frequency

Optometry

Optometri

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)