Abstract

Ever since De Lange (1952) introduced the application of linear systems theory to the study of properties of the human visual system, attempts have been made to convert flicker sensitivity data from the temporal frequency domain to the time domain. Such a transformation would allow a direct comparison between threshold data obtained with small flickering lights and threshold data obtained with brief light pulses. Indirectly it would allow comparison with results obtained using other techniques in the time domain, such as step stimuli (Rashbass 1970) and double pulse perturbation techniques (Roufs and Blommaert 1981). Time domain methods all involve the risk of changing the state of adaptation of the visual system; measurement of flicker sensitivity presents a constant average illumination to the retina, and thus a constant adaptation level.

© 1990 Optical Society of America