Abstract
Temporal contrast enhancement refers to the finding that intermediate-duration, low-spatial-frequency gratings are perceived to have a greater contrast than long-duration gratings of similar spatial frequency. Kitterle and Corwin (1979) suggested that this effect reflects primarily activity in transient channels. To test this, 30 subjects were run in one of three groups consisting of either adaptation to a steady or flickering low-spatial-frequency grating or no adaptation. Temporal contrast enhancement was found for both steady and no-adaptation conditions. Flicker adaptation abolished temporal contrast enhancement. It was suggested that flicker adaptation may decrease the contribution of transient channels to perceived contrast and may cause processing of the test gratings to be switched to sustained channels. The implications of these results for understanding the coding of brightness are discussed.
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Kitterle, F.L., Beard, B.L. The effects of flicker adaptation upon temporal contrast enhancement. Perception & Psychophysics 33, 75–78 (1983). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205868
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205868