Human cones appear to adapt at low light levels: measurements on the red-green detection mechanism

Vision Res. 1995 Nov;35(22):3103-18. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(95)00069-c.

Abstract

Recent physiological evidence suggests that cones do not light adapt at low light levels. To assess whether adaptation is cone-selective at low light levels, the red-green detection mechanism was isolated. Thresholds were measured with a large test flash, which stimulated the L and M cones in different fixed amplitude ratios, on different colored adapting fields. Thresholds were plotted in L and M cone contrast coordinates. The red-green mechanism responded to an equally-weighted difference of L and M cone contrast on each colored field, demonstrating equivalent, Weberian adaptation of the L and M cone signals. The L and M cone signals independently adapted for illuminance levels as low as 60 effective trolands (e.g. M-cone trolands). Since this adaptation is entirely selective to cone type, it suggests that the cones themselves light-adapt. The red-green detection contour on reddish fields was displaced further out from the origin of the cone contrast coordinates, revealing an additional sensitivity loss at a subsequent, spectrally-opponent site. This second-site effect may arise from a net "red" or "green" signal that represents the degree to which the L and M cones are differently hyperpolarized by the steady, colored adapting field. Such differential hyperpolarization is compatible with equivalent, Weberian adaptation of the L and M cones.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lighting
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology
  • Spectrophotometry