No / The parallel processing of information forms an important organisational principle of the primate visual system. Here we describe experiments which use a novel chromatic-achromatic temporal compound stimulus to simultaneously identify colour and luminance specific signals in the human electroretinogram (ERG). Luminance and chromatic components are separated in the stimulus; the luminance modulation has twice the temporal frequency of the chromatic modulation. ERGs were recorded from four trichromatic and two dichromatic subjects (1 deuteranope and 1 protanope). At isoluminance, the fundamental (first harmonic) response was elicited by the chromatic component in the stimulus. The trichromatic ERGs possessed low-pass temporal tuning characteristics, reflecting the activity of parvocellular post-receptoral mechanisms. There was very little first harmonic response in the dichromats' ERGs. The second harmonic response was elicited by the luminance modulation in the compound stimulus and showed, in all subjects, band-pass temporal tuning characteristic of magnocellular activity. Thus it is possible to concurrently elicit ERG responses from the human retina which reflect processing in both chromatic and luminance pathways. As well as providing a clear demonstration of the parallel nature of chromatic and luminance processing in the human retina, the differences that exist between ERGs from trichromatic and dichromatic subjects point to the existence of interactions between afferent post-receptoral pathways that are in operation from the earliest stages of visual processing.

O presente estudo investigou a função visual de pacientes com diabetes tipo 1 atletas e sedentários através de testes psicofísicos e eletrofisiológicos computadorizados de última geração. O objetivo foi investigar possíveis efeitos do exercício físico nas funções visuais. Materiais e Métodos: 33 pacientes com diabetes tipo 1, divididos em dois grupos experimentais: diabético atleta (n = 15; idade = 33,33 ± 6,78; tempo de doença =16,19 ± 6,63) e diabéticos sedentário (n = 18 idade = 28,94 ± 6,04; tempo de doença = 15,92 ± 8,46) e 40 sujeitos controles: controle atleta (n = 20; idade = 32,0 ± 5,61) e controle sedentário ( n = 20; idade = 27,05 5,60 ) foram submetidos a exames de: visão de cores e sensibilidade ao contraste Cambridge Colour Test - CCT; eletroretinograma por padrão reverso PERG e análises laboratoriais para quantificar óxido nítrico e endotelina por quimioluminescência e ELISA. As comparações entre os grupos foram feitas através de teste não paramétrico (Teste Kruskal-Wallis). Resultados: O grupo Diabético apresentou perdas significativas na amplitude do PERG, na discriminação de cores no eixo protan, área da elipse e nas frequências espaciais avaliadas da função da sensibilidade ao contraste, além de disfunção dos fatores endoteliais comparado ao grupo Controle. O grupo diabético atleta apresentou concentração maior de óxido nítrico comparado ao grupo Diabético sedentário. Não foram encontradas correlações entre os fatores endoteliais e as funções visuais. Conclusão: foram encontradas perdas funcionais na avaliação psicofísica e eletrofisiológica de pacientes com diabetes tipo 1. Os achados deste estudo confirmam a hipótese de que as perdas visuais sejam de origem neural pós - receptoral. Aumento na concentração de óxido nítrico encontrado em pacientes diabéticos atletas, confirmam os achados da literatura de que o exercício físico é capaz de aumentar a biodisponibilidade deste fator endotelial. Entretanto esse aumento de biodisponibilidade não se refletiu em recuperação das perdas nas funções visuais, uma vez que não houve correlação entre as alterações dos fatores endoteliais e os resultados da avaliação visual. A conclusão, em resumo, é de que o exercício físico não promoveu proteção dos danos visuais verificados em pacientes diabéticos / The study compared visual functions of sedentary and athlete patients with type 1 diabetes, and respective controls, using computerized psychophysical and electrophysiological tests. Materials and Methods: 33 Patients with type 1 diabetes, divided into two experimental groups: athlete diabetics (n = 15; age = 33.33 ± 6.78; rate of disease = 16.19 ± 6.63) and sedentary diabetics ( n = 18 age = 28.94 ± 6.04; rate of disease = 15.92 ± 8.46) and 40 control subjects: athlete control (n = 20; age = 32.0 ± 5.61) and sedentary control (n = 20; age = 27.05 5.60) were subjected to tests of: color vision and contrast sensitivity - Cambridge Colour Test - CCT; pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and laboratorial analysis of nitric oxide and endothelin using chemiluminescence and ELISA. The comparisons between groups were made through the nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis test). Results: compared the control group, the diabetic group showed significant losses (1) in color discrimination in the protan axis and in ellipse area (2) in several spatial frequencies of the luminance spatial contrast sensitivity function; (3) a reduction in PERG amplitude and (4) dysfunction of endothelial factors. The athlete diabetic group showed increased concentration of nitric oxide compared to the sedentary diabetic group. No correlations were found between the endothelial factors and visual functions. Conclusion: losses in psychophysical and electrophysiological functions were found in patients with type 1 diabetes. The findings support the hypothesis that visual losses are due to the post-receptoral pathways. Increased nitric oxide concentration found in athlete diabetic patients, confirm the findings of the literature that physical exercise can increase the bioavailability this endothelial factor. However this increase in bioavailability was not reflected in the recovery of losses in visual functions, since there was no correlation between changes in endothelial factors and results of visual assessment. In conclusion, the exercise did not promote protection against visual losses due to diabetes

Little is known about the visual capabilities of marine turtles. The ability to discriminate between colors has not been adequately demonstrated on the basis of behavioral criteria. I used a three-part methodology to determine if color discrimination occurred. FIrst, I exposed naèive, light-adapted hatchlings to either a blue, green or yellow light. I manipulated light intensity to obtain a behavioral phototaxis threshold to each color, which provided a range of intensities we knew turtles could detect. Second, I used food to train older turtles to swim toward one light color, and then to discriminate between the rewarded light and another light color ; lights were presented at intensities equally above the phototaxis threshold. Lastly, I varied light intensity so that brightness could not be used as a discrimination cue. Six turtles completed this task and showed a clear ability to select a rewarded over a non-rewarded color, regardless of stimulus intensity. Turtles most rapidly learned to associate shorter wavelengths (blue) with food. My results clearly show loggerheads have color vision. Further investigation is required to determine how marine turtles exploit this capability. / by Morgan Young. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

It is well known that the colour preferences of ganglion and LGN cells do not match the four perceptually simple colours red, green blue and yellow. It is also known that although colour perception is distorted in the peripheral visual field, there are four hues that appear stable with eccentricity. These are defined as peripherally invariant hues. Both of these observations must in some way reflect the physiological substrate of neurons at different stages of the primary visual pathway. The experiments described here are aimed at understanding the link between the physiology and the perception of colour by studying the characteristics of peripheral colour visionThe following questions have been addressed; i) to what extent does colour matching rely on the retinal physiological substrate? ii) what is the reason for the discrepancy between invariant and unique green and how is cone contrast linked to this paradox? iii) how are the `special' hues (invariant and unique) related to human evolution? iv) how does peripheral colour vision vary between males and females?An asymmetric colour matching paradigm and a colour naming task have been employed. In the colour matching task, 24 chromatic axes of variable purity are used. Observers match the chromaticity of a 3 degree peripheral spot with that of a 1 degree parafoveal spot. The results are expressed in terms of hue rotation, saturation match and cone contrast. In the colour naming experiment the observers name 40 chromatic axes as either red, blue, green or yellow and colour naming functions are derived. The central maxima of these functions are defined as the unique hues. The results suggest that colour matching and cone opponency reflect the characteristics of the retinal neural network as they exhibit nasal-temporal asymmetries, similar to known physiological asymmetries. Although three of the peripherally invariant hues match the unique counterparts, invariant and unique green are markedly different for all observers. In an important control experiment unique hues are shown to be stable with eccentricity and purity. This confirms that these attributes are not confounding factors for the observed discrepancy between invariant and unique green. Unlike for the other 'special' hues the RMS cone contrast of invariant green differs markedly between parafoveal and peripheral targets. It is likely that the cone contrast remains unchanged only if the stimuli excite the same number of cones. Two invariant and two unique hues (blue and yellow) fall on the daylight locus suggesting that discrimination in these regions of the colour space is strongly influenced by terrestrial illumination. Moreover, the inter-individual variability is found to be minimised around the daylight locus showing that the blue-yellow system is more stable across colour normal populations than the red-green system. A statistically significant difference is demonstrated between the peripheral colour vision of males and females. This may be attributed to the M-cone polymorphism which in addition to X-chromosome inactivation, results in more than three cone types in the female retina.

O presente estudo investigou a função visual de pacientes com diabetes tipo 1 atletas e sedentários através de testes psicofísicos e eletrofisiológicos computadorizados de última geração. O objetivo foi investigar possíveis efeitos do exercício físico nas funções visuais. Materiais e Métodos: 33 pacientes com diabetes tipo 1, divididos em dois grupos experimentais: diabético atleta (n = 15; idade = 33,33 ± 6,78; tempo de doença =16,19 ± 6,63) e diabéticos sedentário (n = 18 idade = 28,94 ± 6,04; tempo de doença = 15,92 ± 8,46) e 40 sujeitos controles: controle atleta (n = 20; idade = 32,0 ± 5,61) e controle sedentário ( n = 20; idade = 27,05 5,60 ) foram submetidos a exames de: visão de cores e sensibilidade ao contraste Cambridge Colour Test - CCT; eletroretinograma por padrão reverso PERG e análises laboratoriais para quantificar óxido nítrico e endotelina por quimioluminescência e ELISA. As comparações entre os grupos foram feitas através de teste não paramétrico (Teste Kruskal-Wallis). Resultados: O grupo Diabético apresentou perdas significativas na amplitude do PERG, na discriminação de cores no eixo protan, área da elipse e nas frequências espaciais avaliadas da função da sensibilidade ao contraste, além de disfunção dos fatores endoteliais comparado ao grupo Controle. O grupo diabético atleta apresentou concentração maior de óxido nítrico comparado ao grupo Diabético sedentário. Não foram encontradas correlações entre os fatores endoteliais e as funções visuais. Conclusão: foram encontradas perdas funcionais na avaliação psicofísica e eletrofisiológica de pacientes com diabetes tipo 1. Os achados deste estudo confirmam a hipótese de que as perdas visuais sejam de origem neural pós - receptoral. Aumento na concentração de óxido nítrico encontrado em pacientes diabéticos atletas, confirmam os achados da literatura de que o exercício físico é capaz de aumentar a biodisponibilidade deste fator endotelial. Entretanto esse aumento de biodisponibilidade não se refletiu em recuperação das perdas nas funções visuais, uma vez que não houve correlação entre as alterações dos fatores endoteliais e os resultados da avaliação visual. A conclusão, em resumo, é de que o exercício físico não promoveu proteção dos danos visuais verificados em pacientes diabéticos / The study compared visual functions of sedentary and athlete patients with type 1 diabetes, and respective controls, using computerized psychophysical and electrophysiological tests. Materials and Methods: 33 Patients with type 1 diabetes, divided into two experimental groups: athlete diabetics (n = 15; age = 33.33 ± 6.78; rate of disease = 16.19 ± 6.63) and sedentary diabetics ( n = 18 age = 28.94 ± 6.04; rate of disease = 15.92 ± 8.46) and 40 control subjects: athlete control (n = 20; age = 32.0 ± 5.61) and sedentary control (n = 20; age = 27.05 5.60) were subjected to tests of: color vision and contrast sensitivity - Cambridge Colour Test - CCT; pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and laboratorial analysis of nitric oxide and endothelin using chemiluminescence and ELISA. The comparisons between groups were made through the nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis test). Results: compared the control group, the diabetic group showed significant losses (1) in color discrimination in the protan axis and in ellipse area (2) in several spatial frequencies of the luminance spatial contrast sensitivity function; (3) a reduction in PERG amplitude and (4) dysfunction of endothelial factors. The athlete diabetic group showed increased concentration of nitric oxide compared to the sedentary diabetic group. No correlations were found between the endothelial factors and visual functions. Conclusion: losses in psychophysical and electrophysiological functions were found in patients with type 1 diabetes. The findings support the hypothesis that visual losses are due to the post-receptoral pathways. Increased nitric oxide concentration found in athlete diabetic patients, confirm the findings of the literature that physical exercise can increase the bioavailability this endothelial factor. However this increase in bioavailability was not reflected in the recovery of losses in visual functions, since there was no correlation between changes in endothelial factors and results of visual assessment. In conclusion, the exercise did not promote protection against visual losses due to diabetes

Submitted by Maria Suzana Diniz (msuzanad@hotmail.com) on 2015-10-14T14:54:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2900404 bytes, checksum: 1ee5854e28bd882478910deb4dcb5943 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-14T14:54:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2900404 bytes, checksum: 1ee5854e28bd882478910deb4dcb5943 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Workers chronically exposed to a variety of organic solvents may suffer from changes in color vision and contrast sensitivity (CS). However, few studies have investigated whether there are sex-related differences in these changes, one of the factors that can change the toxicokinetics of solvents. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine whether there would be differences between women and men exposed in terms of their chromatic and achromatic visual psychophysical responses. A total of 44 individuals, Control Group total (CGt; n = 22) and Study Group total (SGt; n = 22) participated in the experiment, subdivided into the following groups: Study Group men (SGm): 11 men exposed to solvents (Age, M = 30.18, SD = 6.48; Education level, M = 9.73, SD = 2.10; Work duration, M = 6.53, SD = 4.38); Study Group women (SGw): 11 women exposed to solvents (Age, M = 26.91, SD = 5.86; Education level, M = 10, 36, SD = 0.92; Work duration, M = 4.70, SD = 3.53); Control Group men (CGm): 11 unexposed men (Age, M = 26.73, SD = 6.5; Education level, M = 9.73; SD = 1.8); Control Group women (CGm): 11 unexposed women (Age, M = 26.55, SD = 6.5; Education level, M = 10.45; SD = 1.51). The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences Center (SCC) at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), with CAAE registry number 21350113.9.0000.5188. Initially the participants underwent a screening step, with the following inclusion criteria, among others: a 20/20 or corrected visual acuity (evaluated via optotypes and Rasquin testing) and no dyschromatopsia (evaluated using Ishirara Test). Assessment of color perception was performed using the D15 desaturated Lanthony test (D15d) and the Cambridge Colour Test (CCT). The evaluation was performed by CS stimulation using sinusoidal gratings with a vertical spatial frequency of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10, and 16 cycles per degree (cpd) of visual angle. Furthermore, an assessment of body composition from an examination of bioimpedance. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software package, version 21. First, the overall results between the SGt group (n = 22) and CGt group (n = 22) were compared, and were subsequently compared by sex (n = 11). The results showed that the study group (SGt) (Mdn = 1.18; M = 1.31, SD = 0.32) had a significantly higher ICC (U = 128, p = 0.01) than the CGt (Mdn = 1.09; M = 1.10, SD = 0.26), while there were no significant differences between solvent-exposed men and women (U = 51.0, p = 0.53). In CCT testing (Trivector Protocol), the SGt had a length corresponding to the vector protan axis (Mdn = 50.00; M = 54.00, SD = 16.42), and was significantly higher (U = 133.50, p = 0, 01) than the combined CGt group (Mdn = 40.00; M = 42.59, SD = 16.42), while according to the ellipse protocol, the SGt (Mdn = 981.15; M = 8086.81 ; SD = 22787.81) had a significantly higher ellipse area in A3 (U = 158.00, p = 0.04) compared to the CGt (Mdn = 657.30; M = 781.75, SD = 528.68), but men and women showed no significant differences in both CCT protocols (p > 0,05). The results of the CS showed that the SGt had lower CS in the following frequencies: 0.2 (U = 116,500, p = 0.003); 0.5 (U = 117.00, p = 0.003); 5.0 (U = 149.50, p = 0.03) and 10 cpd (U = 150.00, p = 0.03) compared to the CGt. The SGm (U = 25.0, p = 0.02) had significantly higher CS than SGm at the 0.5 cpd frequency value. The correlational analyses showed that among SGw, the diameter values of circles equivalent to the A1 and A2 ellipse areas retained a significant correlation with MCM: ρ = -0.68; p = 0.02 and ρ = -0.83; p = 0.01, respectively. Among SGw, the diameter value of the circle equivalent to the A2 area was negatively correlated with fat mass: ρ = -0.67; p = 0.02, in other words a greater amount of fatty tissue was correlated with a lower error trend in the red-green opponency axis, in addition, the diameter value of the circle equivalent to the A3 area had a positive correlation with MCM: ρ = 0.61; p = 0.04, i.e. a greater amount of MCM was correlated with a greater tendency to error in the color opponency axis. In short, the data on color vision and the SC obtained by solvent-exposed women and men found no strong evidence of possible differences between the sexes. However, the associations of psychophysiological measurements with the body measurements seem to indicate that fat can act as a protective factor of the organism against the effects of solvents, since fatty tissues may retain a proportion of solvents. In this regard, women could be less affected by solvents by having, on average, a larger proportion of adipose tissue than men. / Trabalhadores expostos de forma crônica à mistura de solventes orgânicos podem sofrer alterações na visão de cores e na sensibilidade ao contraste (SC). Entretanto, poucos estudos investigaram se há diferenças entre os sexos, um dos fatores que podem alterar a toxicocinética dos solventes. Diante disto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se haveria diferença entre mulheres e homens expostos quanto as respostas psicofísicas visuais cromáticas e acromáticas. Participaram 44 pessoas, Grupo de Estudo total (GEt; n = 22) e Grupo Controle total (GCt; n = 22) que formaram os seguintes grupos: Grupo de Estudo Homens (GEh): 11 homens expostos (Idade M = 30,18; DP = 6,48; Escolaridade M = 9,73; DP = 2,10; Tempo de serviço M = 6,53; DP = 4,38); Grupo de Estudo Mulheres (GEh): 11 mulheres expostas (Idade M = 26,91; DP = 5,86; Escolaridade M = 10, 36; DP = 0,92; Tempo de serviço M = 4,70; DP = 3,53); Grupo Controle Homens (GCh): 11 homens não expostos (Idade M = 26,73; DP = 6,5; Escolaridade M = 9,73; DP = 1,8); Grupo Controle Mulheres (GCm): 11 mulheres não expostas (Idade M = 26,55; DP = 6,5; Escolaridade M = 10,45; DP = 1,51). O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS) da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), com número de CAAE: 21350113.9.0000.5188. Inicialmente os participantes realizaram uma de triagem, permanecendo aqueles que, entre outros critérios, apresentaram acuidade visual 20/20 ou corrigida (Optotipos E de Rasquin) e ausência de discromatopsias congênitas (Teste de Ishirara). A avaliação da percepção cromática foi realizada por meio dos testes D15 Dessaturado de Lanthony (D15d) e Cambridge Colour Test (CCT). A avaliação da SC foi realizada com estímulos de grades senoidais verticais de frequências espaciais de 0,2; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; 5,0; 10 e 16 cpg de ângulo visual. Ainda foi realizada uma avaliação da composição corporal a partir de um exame de biompedância. Os dados foram analisados por meio do software SPSS, versão 21. Primeiramente, foram comparados os resultados entre o GEt (n = 22) e o GCt (n = 22), em seguida os resultados foram comparados por sexo (n = 11). Os resultados mostraram que o GEt apresentou ICC (Mdn = 1,18; M = 1,31; DP = 0,32) significativamente maior (U = 128; p = 0,01) ao GC (Mdn = 1,09; M = 1,10; DP = 0,26), ao passo que entre mulheres e homens expostos não houve diferenças (U = 51,0; p = 0,53). Com relação ao CCT, Protocolo Trivector, o GEt apresentou comprimento correspondente ao vetor do eixo protan (Mdn = 50,00; M = 54,00; DP = 16,42) significativamente maior (U = 133,50; p = 0,01) que o GC (Mdn = 40,00; M = 42,59; DP = 16,42), já no Protocolo Elipse, o GEt obteve área da elipse A3 (Mdn = 981,15; M = 8086,81; DP = 22787,81) significativamente maior (U = 158,00; p = 0,04) em relação ao GCt (Mdn = 657,30; M = 781,75; DP = 528,68), mas homens e mulheres não apresentaram diferenças em ambos os protocolos do CCT (p > 0,05).. Os resultados da SC mostraram que o GEt apresentou SC menor nas frequências: 0,2 (U = 116,50; p = 0,003); 0,5 (U = 117,00; p = 0,003); 5,0 (U = 149,50; p = 0,03) e 10 cpg (U = 150,00; p = 0,03) comparado ao GCt. O GEm obtive SC significativamente maior (U = 26,0; p 0,02) que o GEh na frequência 0,5 cpg. As análises correlacionais evidenciaram que entre o GEh, os valores dos diâmetros dos círculos equivalentes as áreas das elipses A1 e A2 mantiveram correlação com a MCM: = -0,68; p = 0,02 e = -0,83; p = 0,01, respectivamente. Já entre o GEm o valor do diâmetro do círculo equivalente a área A2 apresentou correlação negativa com a massa de gordura: = -0,67; p = 0,02, ou seja quanto mais gordura, menor tendência de erro no eixo de oponência de cor vermelho-verde, e ainda o valor do diâmetro do círculo equivalente a área A3 obteve correlação positiva com a MCM: = 0,61; p = 0,04, isto é quanto maior a quantidade de MCM, maior tendência de erro no eixo de oponência de cor. Em suma, os dados relativos à visão de cores e a SC obtidos por mulheres e homens expostos não encontraram fortes evidências de possíveis diferenças entre os sexos. Entretanto, as associações das medidas psicofísicas com as medidas corporais parecem indicar que a gordura pode atuar como um fator de proteção do organismo contra os efeitos dos solventes, já que tecidos gordurosos podem reter produto. Nesta perspectiva, as mulheres poderiam ser menos afetadas por apresentarem quantidade maior de tecido adiposo.

This research investigated the influence of the normal aging process on truly photopic achromatic and chromatic retinal increment threshold over an extensive range of colored targets. It was found that for both achromatic and chromatic retinal thresholds there is a significant correlation between advancing age and the stimulus luminance intensity at threshold across the visible spectrum. This correlation is greater for the short wavelength range than for both the middle and the long wavelength ranges (r² (achromatic)= 0.43; r²(chromatic) = 0.49. In addition, a small exploratory study was completed which examined the role of prereceptoral changes in these age-related differences in color vision function. Results from this preliminary study (Experiment II) support the supposition that prereceptoral factors cannot account for all of the age-related losses that are seen in visual function, particularly in the middle and long wavelength ranges of the visible spectrum. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

The majority of the studies reviewed so far indicated that individual subject variables interact with stimulus variables in order to produce human response to color.

This master´s work is focused on the comparison of subjective assessment of the quality of video sequences. In this study, data are obtained by hardware and sofware techniques and they are compared. In the introduction, methods of video compressions are described. The main part of this work deals wtih the exploring of different methods of subjective assessment of the quality of video sequences. Finally, obtained results from different methods, are evaluated and discussed.