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'The last channel': vision at the temporal margin of the field.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Veto, P 
Thomas, PBM 
Alexander, P 
Wemyss, TA 
Mollon, JD 

Abstract

The human visual field, on the temporal side, extends to at least 90° from the line of sight. Using a two-alternative forced-choice procedure in which observers are asked to report the direction of motion of a Gabor patch, and taking precautions to exclude unconscious eye movements in the direction of the stimulus, we show that the limiting eccentricity of image-forming vision can be established with precision. There are large, but reliable, individual differences in the limiting eccentricity. The limiting eccentricity exhibits a dependence on log contrast; but it is not reduced when the modulation visible to the rods is attenuated, a result compatible with the histological evidence that the outermost part of the retina exhibits a high density of cones. Our working hypothesis is that only one type of neural channel is present in the far periphery of the retina, a channel that responds to temporally modulated stimuli of low spatial frequency and that is directionally selective.

Description

Keywords

motion, ora serrata, perimetry, peripheral vision, retina, Contrast Sensitivity, Female, Humans, Motion, Retina, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Visual Acuity, Visual Fields

Journal Title

Proc Biol Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0962-8452
1471-2954

Volume Title

287

Publisher

The Royal Society

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/S000623/1)
Evelyn Trust