Journal article

Publication year: 2006

Pages: 213-223

Journal: Journal of Vision

Volume number: 6

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 1534-7362

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1167/6.3.3

Publisher: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Abstract: 
We compared the visual detection thresholds for cone-isolating stimuli of trichromats ( those with normal color vision) with those of X-linked dichromats, who lack either the long-wavelength-sensitive ( L) cones ( protanopes) or middle-wavelength-sensitive ( M) cones (deuteranopes). At low ( 1 Hz) temporal frequencies, dichromats have significantly higher ( twofold) thresholds for all colored stimuli than trichromats; whereas at high ( 16 Hz) temporal frequencies, they perform as well or better than trichromats. The advantages of dichromats in detecting high temporally modulated targets can be related to an increased number, through replacement, of the remaining L- or M-cone type. However, their disadvantages in detecting low temporally modulated targets, even in directions of color space where their increased number of cone photoreceptors might be expected to be beneficial, are best explained in terms of the loss of L-M cone opponency and the inability of the visual pathways to reorganize to allow the detection of low-frequency luminance modulation.

Harvard Citation style: Sharpe, L., de Luca, E., Hansen, T., Jägle, H. and Gegenfurtner, K. (2006) Advantages and disadvantages of human dichromacy, Journal of Vision, 6(3), Article 3. pp. 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1167/6.3.3

APA Citation style: Sharpe, L., de Luca, E., Hansen, T., Jägle, H., & Gegenfurtner, K. (2006). Advantages and disadvantages of human dichromacy. Journal of Vision. 6(3), Article 3, 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1167/6.3.3