University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Mechanisms of the dimming and brightening aftereffects

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 19:48 authored by Jenny BostenJenny Bosten, Donald I A Macleod
Dimming and brightening aftereffects occur after exposure to a temporal luminance sawtooth stimulus: A subsequently presented steady test field appears to become progressively dimmer or brighter, depending on the polarity of the adapting sawtooth. Although described as "dimming" and "brightening," it is plausible that a component of the aftereffects is based on contrast changes rather than on luminance changes. We conducted two experiments to reveal any contrast component. In the first we investigated whether the aftereffects result from the same mechanism that causes a polarity-selective loss in contrast sensitivity following luminance sawtooth adaptation. We manipulated test contrast: If a component of the aftereffect results from a polarity selective loss of contrast sensitivity we would expect that the aftereffects would differ in magnitude depending on the contrast polarity of the test fields. We found no effect of test-field polarity. In the second experiment we used an adapting sawtooth with a polarity consistent in contrast but alternating in luminance in order to induce a potential equivalent aftereffect of contrast. Again, we found no evidence that the aftereffects result from contrast adaptation. In a third experiment, we used S-cone isolating stimuli to discover whether there are S-cone dimming and brightening aftereffects. We found no aftereffects. However, in a fourth experiment we replicated Krauskopf and Zaidi's (1986) finding that adaptation to S-cone sawtooth stimuli affects thresholds for increment and decrement detection. The mechanism underlying the dimming and brightening aftereffects thus seems to be independent of the mechanism underlying the concurrent polarity selective reductions in contrast sensitivity.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Vision

ISSN

1534-7362

Publisher

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Issue

6

Volume

13

Page range

11

Article number

Article

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-01-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-01-28

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC