Abstract

A wide variety of visual functions are impaired at isoluminance. For some visual functions–notably accommodation, motion perception and stereopsis–impairment can be nearly complete. The degree of impairment of visual function at isoluminance has suggested to some scientists that these functions are processed by visual centers which are "colorblind"; i.e., receive input only from achromatic postreceptoral visual channels. Others have rejected this interpretation, claiming that the degree of impairment is simply consistent with the general finding that the visual system is relatively insensitive to isoluminant spatial and/or temporal variations in chromaticity. This talk focuses on a number of methodological and conceptual issues which underlie assessment of vision at isoluminance. These issues are discussed primarily within the context of our studies of isoluminant motion perception.

© 1990 Optical Society of America