Summary
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1.
A simple model is described which establishes a relationship between physiological and psychophysical flicker-fusion data. The three components of the model are a transducer, a filter and a flicker-detector. The model is consistent with the view that fusion is purely retinal.
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2.
An electronic analog is used to realize the model. Its essential elements are a source of generator pot1ential, a low-pass filter, and a simulated ganglion cell.
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The model was originally designed to reproduce the psychophysical results obtained by de Lange. Special importance is attached to the envelope of his curves; the model reproduces this envelope. His low-intensity results are duplicated accurately, while the high-intensity, high-frequency data are derived somewhat less accurately. The high-intensity low-frequency data are attributed to a mechanism not included in the model.
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4.
In the simulation of physiological data obtained by Enroth, close resemblance to the firing characteristics of retinal ganglia in cat is shown by the model. Firing occurs for bursts lasting for at most half the period of the alternating stimulus, the number of spikes per burst diminishing to unity as “fusion” is approached.
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The phase lags and latencies of responses in the model satisfy neurophysiological evidence. Both off-latency and inhibition-latency are satisfactorily reproduced.
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6.
The model has been used to simulate two-component flicker data. The “flicker-detector” employed leads to results very similar to those obtained psychophysically. The phase characteristics of the assumed filter agree less well.
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We are indebted to C. Enroth, H. de Lange, Dzn. and D. H. Kelly for their stimulating and helpful correspondence.
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Levinson, J., Harmon, L.D. Studies with artificial neurons, III: mechanisms of flicker-fusion. Kybernetik 1, 107–117 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290181
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290181