Impulse functions for human rod vision

Abstract

1. This paper presents accurate increment threshold data for human rod vision for a small number of experimental parameters. The test is small and brief and the large background is either steady or transient.2. The linear threshold disturbance due to an impulse background consists of an input dependent exponential growth phase and an exponential recovery phase of more or less fixed time constant (ca. 0.08 sec).3. The data are treated by applying signal/noise decision theory to a hypothetical filter with two shot noise inputs, viz. the testing signal and the background. The gain and time course of the impulse function of the filter are slightly affected by the magnitude of the input.4. A linear approach is useful since the impulse functions for dark or light-adapted rod vision yield independent information about quantities which have previously only been used to describe the increment thresholds for small tests on steady backgrounds, viz. the integration time and dark light of the fully dark-adapted eye and the gain changes (or changes in the signal/background ratio) which occur on progressive light adaptation.