Abstract
The distribution of light difference threshold throughout the visual field has been said to be mirrored rather exactly by the distribution of ganglion cells throughout the retina (e.g. Pappel and Harvey, 1973). The close correlation between psychophysical results and anatomical data has suggested the hypothesis that light difference threshold is primarily determined by retinal mechanisms. Here we present evidence that light difference threshold can also be strongly influenced by non-retinal factors. Specifically we would like to suggest that light difference threshold at a given retinal location can be modulated by interhemispheric interactions which are most likely taking place at the subcortical level. A more extensive report of these observations has been published elsewhere (Singer et al., 1977).
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Frost, D. and Pappel, E. (1976). Different programming modes of human saccadic eye movements as a function of stimulus eccentricity: indications of a functional subdivision of the visual field. Biol. Cybernetics, 23, 39–48
Perenin, M. T. and Jeannerod, M. (1975). Residual vision in cortically blind hemifields. Neuropsychologia, 13, 1–7
Pappel, E. and Harvey, L. H., Jr. (1973). Light difference threshold and subjective brightness in the periphery of the visual field. Psychol. Forschung, 36, 145–61
Pöppel, E. and Richards, W. (1974). Light sensitivity in cortical scotoma contra-lateral to small islands of blindness. Expl. Brain Res., 21, 125–30
Pappel, E., Held, R. and Frost, D. (1973). Residual visual function after brain wounds involving the central visual pathways in man. Nature (Lond.), 243, 295–96
Richards, W. (1973). Visual processing in scotomata. Expl Brain Res., 17, 333–47
Singer, W., Zihl, J. and Pöppel, E. (1977). Subcortical control of visual threshold in humans: evidence for modality specific and retinotopically organized mechanisms of selective attention. Expl Brain Res., 29, 173–90
Sloan, L. L. (1971). The Tübinger perimeter of Harms and Aulhorn. Archs Ophthal., 86, 612–22
Sprague, J. M. (1966). Interaction of cortex and superior colliculus in mediation of visually guided behavior in the cat. Science, 153, 1544–47
Weiskrantz, L., Warrington, E. K., Sanders, M. D. and Marshall, J. (1974). Visual capacity in the hemianopic field following a restricted occipital ablation. Brain, 97, 709–28
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1979 I. Steele Russell, M. W. van Hof and G. Berlucchi
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zihl, J., Von Cramon, D., Pöppel, E., Singer, W. (1979). Interhemispheric Modulation of Light Difference Threshold in the Periphery of the Visual Field. In: Russell, I.S., van Hof, M.W., Berlucchi, G. (eds) Structure and Function of Cerebral Commissures. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03645-5_35
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03645-5_35
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-03647-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-03645-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)