Abstract

Under haploscopic viewing conditions, long-wavelength adaptation of one eye changes the perceived redness/greenness of a test presented to only the opposite, dark- adapted eye. We demonstrate that this central mechanism of chromatic adaptation depends on the wavelength of the adapting light presented to the test eye in a manner characteristic of a chromatically opponent process. Perceived redness/greenness was quantified by measuring red/green (r/g) equilibria over a 2 log unit range of test-field levels. The effect of the central mechanism was mea sured by the change in the spectral composition of the test field caused by raising the level of a 660 nm non-test-eye adapting light from 0.5 to 2.0 log td. The dependence of the central effect on test-eye wavelength was determined by varying the wavelength of a 0.5 log td, test-eye adapting field over 540-660 nm. The results demonstrate that with middle- wavelength (540 nm) test-eye adaptation the effect of the central mechanism is exaggerated, whereas with long-wavelength (660 nm) test-eye adaptation the effect is reduced in comparison to non-test-eye (i.e., dark) adaptation. Furthermore, a range of test-eye wavelengths near 580 nm mimic test-eye dark adaptation.

© 1990 Optical Society of America