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Comparative Study
. 2009 May 28;9(5):26.1-10.
doi: 10.1167/9.5.26.

The neural pathways mediating color shifts induced by temporally varying light

Jens H Christiansen  1 , Anthony D D'Antona, Steven K Shevell
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The neural pathways mediating color shifts induced by temporally varying light

Jens H Christiansen et al. J Vis. .

Abstract

In natural viewing, an object's background often changes over time. Temporally varying backgrounds were investigated here with a steady test field within a time-varying surrounding chromaticity. With slow surround variation (below approximately 3 Hz), the color appearance of a steady test is also perceived to fluctuate. At somewhat higher temporal frequencies, however, temporal variation of the surround is visible but the test appears steady (R. L. De Valois, M. A. Webster, K. K. De Valois, & B. Lingelbach, 1986); also above approximately 3 Hz, temporal chromatic variation along the l- or s-axis of the MacLeod-Boynton space (symmetric about equal-energy-spectrum "white") shifts the steady appearance of the test field toward redness or yellowness, respectively (A. D. D'Antona & S. K. Shevell, 2006). In the study here, color shifts were measured with temporal surround modulation at 6 Hz or greater along axes intermediate to the l and s directions. Varying the relative phase of simultaneous surround variation in l and s should not change responses within independent l and s pathways but should differentially excite neural representations that combine l and s signals (so-called higher order chromatic mechanisms). Varying the phase of l and s showed that the induced color shifts were accounted for by neural responses both from nearly independent l and s pathways and from higher order chromatic mechanisms.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram showing how the two linear filters and the nonlinear response of the “sandwich” model may influence chromatic induction from a temporally varying surround (see text for further explanation).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Stimulus used in the experiment, shown to scale. (b) Arrowheads mark the chromaticity coordinates of the endpoints of the axes of modulation used in the experiment, shown in a MacLeod–Boynton chromaticity diagram. Axes of modulation (stippled lines) were always symmetric around the EES “white” at the center of the chromaticity diagram (gray circle). The chromaticity diagram shows 8 high-contrast lines of modulation around EES (black arrowheads) and also 4 low-contrast lines of modulation around EES at 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135° (gray arrowheads).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Induced color shifts measured at 6.25-Hz temporal modulation of the surround. Measurements are shown for three observers. Large (small) black circles are color shifts resulting from high (low)-contrast surround modulation along only the s-axis (90°). Large (small) black squares are color shifts resulting from high (low)-contrast surround modulation along only the l-axis (0°). These values are replotted in panels in the second and third columns when they correspond to the level of l or s contrast for the panel’s angles of modulation. Large diamonds are color shifts from surround modulation along intermediate directions. Small diamonds are color shifts from surround modulation of 45° and 135° when both l and s are at low contrast. Angles of modulation for intermediate directions are noted next to each plotted point. Solid gray circle is the measurement from the control condition with a steady surround metameric to EES. Dashed lines cross at coordinates of EES. Error bars indicate ±1 SEM. Axes as in Figure 2b.
Figure 4
Figure 4
As Figure 3 but for surround modulation at 9.38 Hz.
Figure 5
Figure 5
As Figure 3 but for surround modulation at 18.75 Hz. For ease of comparison, the symbols are as in Figures 3 and 4. Some symbols representing low-contrast modulation on both l and s are hidden.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Top (bottom) panel shows l values (s values) of color shifts for all angles of modulation at 6.25 Hz (open circles) and 18.75 Hz (black squares). Error bars indicate ±1 SEM. Dashed lines indicate the l or s value for the metamer to equal-energy-spectrum (EES) “white”. Gray horizontal lines show measurements from the control condition with a steady surround metameric to EES. The horizontal axis shows the angle of surround modulation (angles tested were 0°, 26°, 45°, 63°, 90°, 116°, 135°, and 153°; see Figure 2b).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Mean results for three subjects at 37.5 Hz. Diamonds are for surround modulation along intermediate directions. Squares are surround modulation along only l (0°) at high contrast and only s (90°) at high contrast. Gray circle is for the steady surround metameric to EES. Many symbols are hidden.
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