Abstract

SILVA, Jandilson Avelino da et al. Spatial contrast sensitivity of young adults for vertical sine-wave gratings in different conditions of luminance. Psicol. teor. prat. [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.3, pp. 15-25. ISSN 1516-3687.

The aim of this study was to measure the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) of young adults for spatial frequencies of vertical sine-wave gratings in terms of photopic and scotopic luminance. We used the forced-choice psychophysical method to estimate contrast sensitivity for frequencies of 0.6, 2.5 and 5.0 cpd. All participants had normal or corrected acuity and they were free of ocular pathologies. Statistical analysis showed that there were differences between the conditions of luminance, where adults were more sensitive to middle and high frequencies in the photopic luminance condition. These results indicate that the characteristics of human visual system to detect spatial frequencies in photopic conditions of luminance and scotopic pass through distinct mechanisms that make possible the differentiation of contrast.

Keywords : contrast sensitivity; vertical sine-wave gratings; psychophysical method; photopic luminance; scotopic luminance.

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