Robert M. Boynton and Gillray Kandel, "On Responses in the Human Visual System as a Function of Adaptation Level*," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 47, 275-286 (1957)
Thresholds are determined at various short times before and after the onset of a 38-mL conditioning stimulus in the dark-adapted eye, and following six other levels of pre-adaptation. An outstanding feature of the results is that under certain conditions thresholds decrease with increasing pre-adapting luminance. The results are considered to provide an indirect picture of on-responses in the visual system. The relation between “masking” associated with these on-responses and those effects attributable to photochemical bleaching is assessed and discussed.
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Experimental data for the “off” condition (where the conditioning stimulus was not used). Data for each of the three subjects (RB, GK, CT) are given, as well as the means. Values given are test-flash thresholds in log mL.
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.21
−2.21
−2.24
−2.22
−2.23
−2.23
−2.18
CT
−2.22
−2.14
−2.01
−2.07
−2.27
−2.18
−2.18
GK
−2.11
−2.01
−2.08
−2.06
−2.17
−2.16
−2.06
Mean
−2.18
−2.12
−2.11
−2.11
−2.22
−2.19
−2.14
−1.50
RB
−2.10
−2.06
−2.12
−2.26
−2.23
−2.19
−2.22
CT
−1.97
−2.08
−2.06
−2.13
−2.18
−2.28
−2.27
GK
−1.82
−1.89
−1.91
−1.98
−2.01
−1.97
−1.94
Mean
−1.96
−2.01
−2.03
−2.12
−2.14
−2.15
−2.14
−0.50
RB
−1.77
−1.94
−1.86
−1.89
−1.87
−1.89
−1.84
CT
−1.52
−1.83
−1.74
−1.82
−1.88
−1.84
−1.84
GK
−1.61
−1.78
−1.83
−1.86
−1.83
−1.87
−1.89
Mean
−1.63
−1.85
−1.81
−1.85
−1.86
−1.86
−1.85
0.50
RB
−1.39
−1.54
−1.53
−1.47
−1.46
−1.46
−1.52
CT
−1.28
−1.52
−1.26
−1.44
−1.52
−1.51
−1.59
GK
−1.39
−1.54
−1.54
−1.57
−1.54
−1.49
−1.57
Mean
−1.35
−1.53
−1.44
−1.49
−1.51
−1.49
−1.56
1.50
RB
−0.84
−1.09
−1.04
−0.97
−0.93
−0.93
−1.02
CT
−0.99
−1.16
−1.05
−1.21
−1.24
−1.12
−1.27
GK
−0.94
−1.04
−1.18
−1.13
−1.11
−1.08
−0.96
Mean
−0.92
−1.10
−1.09
−1.10
−1.09
−1.04
−1.08
2.50
RB
−0.12
−0.33
−0.38
−0.37
−0.37
−0.43
−0.42
CT
−0.24
−0.36
−0.27
−0.38
−0.44
−0.41
−0.54
GK
−0.12
−0.17
−0.26
−0.34
−0.36
−0.44
−0.37
Mean
−0.16
−0.29
−0.30
−0.36
−0.39
−0.43
−0.44
3.00
RB
0.55
0.42
0.43
0.34
0.32
0.31
0.24
CT
0.51
0.33
0.51
0.27
0.22
0.31
0.03
GK
0.68
0.54
0.54
0.44
0.57
0.47
0.46
Mean
0.58
0.43
0.49
0.35
0.37
0.36
0.24
3.50
RB
1.34
1.24
1.22
1.24
1.23
1.26
1.16
CT
1.31
1.19
1.38
1.18
1.07
1.08
0.94
GK
1.46
1.41
1.32
1.26
1.24
1.29
1.31
Mean
1.37
1.28
1.31
1.23
1.18
1.21
1.14
Table II
Experimental data for the “on” condition (where the conditioning stimulus was used). Data for each of the three subjects (RB, GK, CT) are given as well as the means. Values given are test-flash thresholds in log mL.
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.26
−2.04
−1.44
0.81
1.32
1.15
0.98
CT
−2.09
−1.94
−1.34
1.03
1.32
1.26
0.79
GK
−2.09
−1.79
−1.41
1.09
1.24
1.18
0.93
Mean
−2.15
−1.92
−1.40
0.98
1.29
1.20
0.90
−1.50
RB
−2.13
−2.02
−1.52
0.76
1.24
1.17
0.94
CT
−1.91
−2.01
−1.42
1.02
1.26
1.22
0.82
GK
−1.79
−1.73
−1.29
1.15
1.37
1.19
0.93
Mean
−1.94
−1.92
−1.41
0.98
1.29
1.19
0.90
−0.50
RB
−1.74
−1.87
−1.51
0.57
1.23
1.11
0.98
CT
−1.48
−1.91
−1.34
0.82
1.13
1.14
0.72
GK
−1.57
−1.59
−1.24
1.11
1.36
1.13
0.82
Mean
−1.60
−1.79
−1.36
0.83
1.24
1.13
0.84
0.50
RB
−1.33
−1.47
−1.32
0.29
0.82
0.69
0.54
CT
−1.33
−1.52
−1.06
0.91
0.98
0.83
0.43
GK
−1.32
−1.44
−1.12
0.83
0.92
0.78
0.48
Mean
−1.33
−1.48
−1.17
0.68
0.91
0.77
0.48
1.50
RB
−0.82
−1.02
−0.93
0.45
0.75
0.60
0.17
CT
−0.99
−1.31
−1.05
0.47
0.91
0.73
0.32
GK
−0.99
−1.08
−1.16
0.64
0.72
0.66
−0.06
Mean
−0.93
−1.14
−1.05
0.52
0.79
0.66
0.14
2.50
RB
−0.18
−0.28
−0.31
0.40
0.44
0.37
0.02
CT
−0.27
−0.52
−0.34
0.74
0.61
0.54
0.24
GK
−0.14
−0.22
−0.33
0.44
0.39
0.39
−0.02
Mean
−0.20
−0.34
−0.33
0.53
0.48
0.43
0.08
3.00
RB
0.49
0.32
0.37
0.68
0.64
0.58
0.54
CT
0.42
0.33
0.40
0.69
0.64
0.64
0.54
GK
0.73
0.53
0.59
0.82
0.64
0.51
0.53
Mean
0.55
0.39
0.45
0.73
0.64
0.58
0.54
3.50
RB
1.33
1.19
1.21
1.25
1.27
1.25
1.31
CT
1.29
1.14
1.27
1.24
0.97
1.18
1.06
GK
1.47
1.44
1.23
1.27
1.29
1.26
1.38
Mean
1.36
1.26
1.24
1.25
1.14
1.23
1.25
Table III
Calculated values of log Bm [defined in Eq. (2) in text].
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.27
−2.05
−1.42
0.81
1.33
1.16
0.94
CT
−2.02
−1.95
−1.48
0.95
1.44
1.29
0.82
GK
−2.07
−1.87
−1.42
1.06
1.32
1.25
0.91
Mean
−2.12
−1.95
−1.44
0.95
1.36
1.24
0.89
−1.50
RB
−2.25
−2.18
−1.62
0.80
1.25
1.14
0.94
CT
−2.09
−2.08
−1.51
1.00
1.29
1.35
0.94
GK
−2.06
−1.93
−1.47
1.04
1.29
1.07
0.78
Mean
−2.13
−2.06
−1.53
0.95
1.28
1.19
0.89
−0.50
RB
−2.19
−2.15
−1.87
0.24
0.90
0.78
0.60
CT
−2.11
−2.23
−1.75
0.49
0.96
0.83
0.41
GK
−2.05
−1.90
−1.50
0.88
1.20
0.91
0.62
Mean
−2.12
−2.09
−1.70
0.54
1.03
0.85
0.55
0.50
RB
−2.16
−2.15
−2.01
−0.46
0.06
−0.07
−0.16
CT
−2.20
−2.15
−1.95
0.20
0.35
0.19
−0.13
GK
−2.16
−1.99
−1.67
0.31
0.37
0.18
−0.04
Mean
−2.17
−2.10
−1.88
0.02
0.27
0.11
−0.11
1.50
RB
−2.20
−2.15
−2.11
−0.80
−0.54
−0.69
−1.03
CT
−2.15
−2.30
−2.15
−0.47
0.00
−0.30
−0.56
GK
−2.14
−2.13
−2.07
−0.32
−0.26
−0.35
−1.19
Mean
−2.16
−2.19
−2.11
−0.53
−0.27
−0.45
−0.93
2.50
RB
−2.28
−2.17
−2.15
−1.45
−1.41
−1.42
−1.78
CT
−2.18
−2.31
−2.22
−1.03
−1.10
−1.20
−1.37
GK
−2.11
−2.14
−2.16
−1.31
−1.34
−1.26
−1.74
Mean
−2.19
−2.20
−2.18
−1.26
−1.28
−1.29
−1.63
3.00
RB
−2.28
−2.32
−2.28
−1.88
−1.90
−1.95
−1.92
CT
−2.24
−2.15
−2.26
−1.73
−1.73
−1.72
−1.64
GK
−2.04
−2.10
−2.06
−1.71
−2.02
−2.05
−2.02
Mean
−2.18
−2.18
−2.19
−1.77
−1.88
−1.90
−1.85
3.50
RB
−2.23
−2.27
−2.23
−2.21
−2.28
−2.23
−2.07
CT
−2.17
−2.20
−2.26
−2.09
−2.25
−2.05
−2.03
GK
−2.08
−2.06
−2.18
−2.08
−2.04
−2.12
−2.02
Mean
−2.16
−2.17
−2.22
−2.13
−2.19
−2.13
−2.04
Table IV
Data from supplementary experiment, where adapting stimulus was not extinguished, and comparable data from main experiment (where pre-adapting stimulus was extinguished 0.28 sec prior to conditioning stimulus onset) for the same two subjects (GK and CT). Values given are mean thresholds for the two subjects in log mL. Calculated values of log Bm [see Eq. (2)] are also given.
Experimental data for the “off” condition (where the conditioning stimulus was not used). Data for each of the three subjects (RB, GK, CT) are given, as well as the means. Values given are test-flash thresholds in log mL.
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.21
−2.21
−2.24
−2.22
−2.23
−2.23
−2.18
CT
−2.22
−2.14
−2.01
−2.07
−2.27
−2.18
−2.18
GK
−2.11
−2.01
−2.08
−2.06
−2.17
−2.16
−2.06
Mean
−2.18
−2.12
−2.11
−2.11
−2.22
−2.19
−2.14
−1.50
RB
−2.10
−2.06
−2.12
−2.26
−2.23
−2.19
−2.22
CT
−1.97
−2.08
−2.06
−2.13
−2.18
−2.28
−2.27
GK
−1.82
−1.89
−1.91
−1.98
−2.01
−1.97
−1.94
Mean
−1.96
−2.01
−2.03
−2.12
−2.14
−2.15
−2.14
−0.50
RB
−1.77
−1.94
−1.86
−1.89
−1.87
−1.89
−1.84
CT
−1.52
−1.83
−1.74
−1.82
−1.88
−1.84
−1.84
GK
−1.61
−1.78
−1.83
−1.86
−1.83
−1.87
−1.89
Mean
−1.63
−1.85
−1.81
−1.85
−1.86
−1.86
−1.85
0.50
RB
−1.39
−1.54
−1.53
−1.47
−1.46
−1.46
−1.52
CT
−1.28
−1.52
−1.26
−1.44
−1.52
−1.51
−1.59
GK
−1.39
−1.54
−1.54
−1.57
−1.54
−1.49
−1.57
Mean
−1.35
−1.53
−1.44
−1.49
−1.51
−1.49
−1.56
1.50
RB
−0.84
−1.09
−1.04
−0.97
−0.93
−0.93
−1.02
CT
−0.99
−1.16
−1.05
−1.21
−1.24
−1.12
−1.27
GK
−0.94
−1.04
−1.18
−1.13
−1.11
−1.08
−0.96
Mean
−0.92
−1.10
−1.09
−1.10
−1.09
−1.04
−1.08
2.50
RB
−0.12
−0.33
−0.38
−0.37
−0.37
−0.43
−0.42
CT
−0.24
−0.36
−0.27
−0.38
−0.44
−0.41
−0.54
GK
−0.12
−0.17
−0.26
−0.34
−0.36
−0.44
−0.37
Mean
−0.16
−0.29
−0.30
−0.36
−0.39
−0.43
−0.44
3.00
RB
0.55
0.42
0.43
0.34
0.32
0.31
0.24
CT
0.51
0.33
0.51
0.27
0.22
0.31
0.03
GK
0.68
0.54
0.54
0.44
0.57
0.47
0.46
Mean
0.58
0.43
0.49
0.35
0.37
0.36
0.24
3.50
RB
1.34
1.24
1.22
1.24
1.23
1.26
1.16
CT
1.31
1.19
1.38
1.18
1.07
1.08
0.94
GK
1.46
1.41
1.32
1.26
1.24
1.29
1.31
Mean
1.37
1.28
1.31
1.23
1.18
1.21
1.14
Table II
Experimental data for the “on” condition (where the conditioning stimulus was used). Data for each of the three subjects (RB, GK, CT) are given as well as the means. Values given are test-flash thresholds in log mL.
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.26
−2.04
−1.44
0.81
1.32
1.15
0.98
CT
−2.09
−1.94
−1.34
1.03
1.32
1.26
0.79
GK
−2.09
−1.79
−1.41
1.09
1.24
1.18
0.93
Mean
−2.15
−1.92
−1.40
0.98
1.29
1.20
0.90
−1.50
RB
−2.13
−2.02
−1.52
0.76
1.24
1.17
0.94
CT
−1.91
−2.01
−1.42
1.02
1.26
1.22
0.82
GK
−1.79
−1.73
−1.29
1.15
1.37
1.19
0.93
Mean
−1.94
−1.92
−1.41
0.98
1.29
1.19
0.90
−0.50
RB
−1.74
−1.87
−1.51
0.57
1.23
1.11
0.98
CT
−1.48
−1.91
−1.34
0.82
1.13
1.14
0.72
GK
−1.57
−1.59
−1.24
1.11
1.36
1.13
0.82
Mean
−1.60
−1.79
−1.36
0.83
1.24
1.13
0.84
0.50
RB
−1.33
−1.47
−1.32
0.29
0.82
0.69
0.54
CT
−1.33
−1.52
−1.06
0.91
0.98
0.83
0.43
GK
−1.32
−1.44
−1.12
0.83
0.92
0.78
0.48
Mean
−1.33
−1.48
−1.17
0.68
0.91
0.77
0.48
1.50
RB
−0.82
−1.02
−0.93
0.45
0.75
0.60
0.17
CT
−0.99
−1.31
−1.05
0.47
0.91
0.73
0.32
GK
−0.99
−1.08
−1.16
0.64
0.72
0.66
−0.06
Mean
−0.93
−1.14
−1.05
0.52
0.79
0.66
0.14
2.50
RB
−0.18
−0.28
−0.31
0.40
0.44
0.37
0.02
CT
−0.27
−0.52
−0.34
0.74
0.61
0.54
0.24
GK
−0.14
−0.22
−0.33
0.44
0.39
0.39
−0.02
Mean
−0.20
−0.34
−0.33
0.53
0.48
0.43
0.08
3.00
RB
0.49
0.32
0.37
0.68
0.64
0.58
0.54
CT
0.42
0.33
0.40
0.69
0.64
0.64
0.54
GK
0.73
0.53
0.59
0.82
0.64
0.51
0.53
Mean
0.55
0.39
0.45
0.73
0.64
0.58
0.54
3.50
RB
1.33
1.19
1.21
1.25
1.27
1.25
1.31
CT
1.29
1.14
1.27
1.24
0.97
1.18
1.06
GK
1.47
1.44
1.23
1.27
1.29
1.26
1.38
Mean
1.36
1.26
1.24
1.25
1.14
1.23
1.25
Table III
Calculated values of log Bm [defined in Eq. (2) in text].
Luminance of pre-adapting stimulus (log mL)
Conditioning interval in seconds
Subj.
−0.20
−0.10
−0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.30
−4.20
RB
−2.27
−2.05
−1.42
0.81
1.33
1.16
0.94
CT
−2.02
−1.95
−1.48
0.95
1.44
1.29
0.82
GK
−2.07
−1.87
−1.42
1.06
1.32
1.25
0.91
Mean
−2.12
−1.95
−1.44
0.95
1.36
1.24
0.89
−1.50
RB
−2.25
−2.18
−1.62
0.80
1.25
1.14
0.94
CT
−2.09
−2.08
−1.51
1.00
1.29
1.35
0.94
GK
−2.06
−1.93
−1.47
1.04
1.29
1.07
0.78
Mean
−2.13
−2.06
−1.53
0.95
1.28
1.19
0.89
−0.50
RB
−2.19
−2.15
−1.87
0.24
0.90
0.78
0.60
CT
−2.11
−2.23
−1.75
0.49
0.96
0.83
0.41
GK
−2.05
−1.90
−1.50
0.88
1.20
0.91
0.62
Mean
−2.12
−2.09
−1.70
0.54
1.03
0.85
0.55
0.50
RB
−2.16
−2.15
−2.01
−0.46
0.06
−0.07
−0.16
CT
−2.20
−2.15
−1.95
0.20
0.35
0.19
−0.13
GK
−2.16
−1.99
−1.67
0.31
0.37
0.18
−0.04
Mean
−2.17
−2.10
−1.88
0.02
0.27
0.11
−0.11
1.50
RB
−2.20
−2.15
−2.11
−0.80
−0.54
−0.69
−1.03
CT
−2.15
−2.30
−2.15
−0.47
0.00
−0.30
−0.56
GK
−2.14
−2.13
−2.07
−0.32
−0.26
−0.35
−1.19
Mean
−2.16
−2.19
−2.11
−0.53
−0.27
−0.45
−0.93
2.50
RB
−2.28
−2.17
−2.15
−1.45
−1.41
−1.42
−1.78
CT
−2.18
−2.31
−2.22
−1.03
−1.10
−1.20
−1.37
GK
−2.11
−2.14
−2.16
−1.31
−1.34
−1.26
−1.74
Mean
−2.19
−2.20
−2.18
−1.26
−1.28
−1.29
−1.63
3.00
RB
−2.28
−2.32
−2.28
−1.88
−1.90
−1.95
−1.92
CT
−2.24
−2.15
−2.26
−1.73
−1.73
−1.72
−1.64
GK
−2.04
−2.10
−2.06
−1.71
−2.02
−2.05
−2.02
Mean
−2.18
−2.18
−2.19
−1.77
−1.88
−1.90
−1.85
3.50
RB
−2.23
−2.27
−2.23
−2.21
−2.28
−2.23
−2.07
CT
−2.17
−2.20
−2.26
−2.09
−2.25
−2.05
−2.03
GK
−2.08
−2.06
−2.18
−2.08
−2.04
−2.12
−2.02
Mean
−2.16
−2.17
−2.22
−2.13
−2.19
−2.13
−2.04
Table IV
Data from supplementary experiment, where adapting stimulus was not extinguished, and comparable data from main experiment (where pre-adapting stimulus was extinguished 0.28 sec prior to conditioning stimulus onset) for the same two subjects (GK and CT). Values given are mean thresholds for the two subjects in log mL. Calculated values of log Bm [see Eq. (2)] are also given.