Chromatic induction: border contrast or adaptation to surrounding light?

Vision Res. 1998 Jun;38(11):1561-6. doi: 10.1016/s0042-6989(98)00006-6.

Abstract

Chromatic induction from a surrounding light is measured with an additional remote field outside the surround. Chromatic induction from the surround into a central test field is found to be attenuated by a remote inhomogeneous 'checkerboard', composed of squares at two different chromaticities. A uniform remote field, on the other hand, either at the average or at the most extreme chromaticity of the 'checkerboard', has a weaker effect on chromatic induction than the inhomogeneous field, implying that chromatic contrast within the remote region is a critical factor. The complete set of experiments is accounted for by chromatic contrast gain control: chromatic induction, mediated by a neural signal for contrast at the edge of the test, is attenuated by contrast within the remote region. A contrast gain control set by variation in chromaticity over a broad area can contribute to the stable color appearance of surfaces embedded within complex scenes by minimizing chromatic induction from locally adjacent regions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Contrast Sensitivity / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Optical Illusions / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology