Work

Measuring the temporal contrast sensitivity function of the phantom array effect

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The phantom array effect (PAE) has been widely investigated, but data are still insufficiently consistent to accurately predict the visibility of the PAE. One of the most critical steps towards a visibility measure is the temporal contrast threshold/sensitivity function. To determine this function, we experimentally measured the visibility threshold of the PAE at various frequencies. Participants were instructed to make 54.5° saccades in the dark across a thin light source, subtending a visual angle of 0.2° (horizontally) × 10° (vertically), with a luminance of 50 cd m −2 . Their task was to indicate in which of two sequentially presented stimuli they observed the PAE, where one stimulus was the reference driven with a direct current and one was the test stimulus, sinusoidally modulated over time. The QUEST+ method was used to change the modulation depth in the test stimulus. The results revealed a bandpass-shaped sensitivity curve of the PAE, with a peak at about 600 Hz. About 70% of the 22 participants had a peak sensitivity between a modulation depth of 0.04 and 0.13, and 65% of the 22 participants had a peak frequency between 460 Hz and 700 Hz.

Source: Lighting Research & Technology

DOI: 10.1177/14771535251379686

Authors: X Kong, C Martinsons, M Nilsson Tengelin, I Heynderickx

Institutions: Eindhoven University of Technology, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,150

Funder: European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research