Relation between simultaneous spatial-discrimination thresholds and luminance in man.

ABSTRACT

Simultaneous spatial-discrimination thresholds of 6 human subjects were measured at luminances between 0.2 and 2000 cd/m2. Subjects were tested on a forced-choice discrimination task which required them to distinguish between test and control stimuli of high contrast square-wave gratings with similar space-average luminances. The form of the function depicting the relationship between acuity and luminance is similar to that obtained by other researchers. The estimated maximum acuity of 72 cycles/degree (c/deg) is higher than the commonly cited value of 60 c/deg and this is probably due to the combination of the high stimulus luminance and the psychophysical technique employed in this study.