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A portable device was constructed which presents moving, computer generated, sine-wave grating slide projections that range in spatial frequency from 0.4 to 20.5 cycles per degree. At each of two different testing sessions, the contrast sensitivities of 60 undergraduate psychology majors were measured at a static, 25 deg/sec, and 50 deg/sec target movement condition. The results indicate that as target velocity was increased, contrast sensitivity decreased at middle and high spatial frequencies but that contrast sensitivity was enhanced at very low spatial frequencies by target movement. Also, the area of peak sensitivity shifted toward lower spatial frequencies as target velocity increased. In addition, test, re-test reliability was demonstrated. The results are consistent with previous Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) research which has shown that the ability to resolve fine detail decreases as target velocities increase, presumedly due to limitations in eye movement control. The testing device, which was designed and constructed for the present study, has proven to be a reliable means for measuring dynamic contrast sensitivity (DCS) and has some distinct advantages over existing methods for measuring both DVA and DCS and, as such, will be valuable in future DVA and DCS research. / Master of Science

This research was designed to investigate the relationship between Trait-based Individual differences (neuroticism and extraversion) and glare subjective responses as well as the actual contrast sensitivity when exposed to the same manipulated glare condition. In addition, the relationship between the glare subjective responses and actual contrast sensitivity was investigated. To examine the trait-based individual differences, the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) was used while the subjective glare experience was examined utilizing modified glare discomfort rating scale. The visual performance was measured through the contrast sensitivity level using adjustable contrast level of the Landolt's C target. This investigation compared 36 individuals (9 high neuroticism scorers, 9 low neuroticism scorers, 9 high extraversion scorers, and 9 low extraversion scorers) on subjective discomfort glare rating responses and visual contrast sensitivity. The study is directed toward improving our understanding of influencing factors on the experience of discomfort glare, which may eventually be applied to the design of glare measurement methods, and toward training and selection of drivers and workers who may work under conditions of glare. Results indicated significant effect of extraversion trait on rating response while insignificant effect on visual related performance was found. The relationships between rating response and visual performance were also found to be quite low in this study. In conclusion, the expected model was supported but only on the extraversion trait. / Master of Science

The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate the performance of the contrast sensitivity clock (CSC), a new screening device for measuring contrast sensitivity (CS) and glare. This device allows CS without glare, with glare and disability glare scores to be recorded. After initial data collection the design of the CSC was slightly amended improving the performance of the device. The amended design of the CSC was shown to be a valid, discriminative and repeatable measure for purpose. The CSC is also a quick test to perform and is relatively cheap to produce. If all these factors are considered it shows potential to become the test of choice for the assessment of visual glare. A head-mounted display system was also evaluated in terms of the glare effects it may cause. The monocular display screen of the device significantly reduced the CS of the eye directly exposed but also had an effect on binocular performance, reducing amounts of binocular summation. Electronic devices, including head-mounted displays and satellite navigation systems can seriously affect CS at low luminance levels, similar to those found when driving at night.

The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate the performance of the contrast sensitivity clock (CSC), a new screening device for measuring contrast sensitivity (CS) and glare. This device allows CS without glare, with glare and disability glare scores to be recorded. After initial data collection the design of the CSC was slightly amended improving the performance of the device. The amended design of the CSC was shown to be a valid, discriminative and repeatable measure for purpose. The CSC is also a quick test to perform and is relatively cheap to produce. If all these factors are considered it shows potential to become the test of choice for the assessment of visual glare. A head-mounted display system was also evaluated in terms of the glare effects it may cause. The monocular display screen of the device significantly reduced the CS of the eye directly exposed but also had an effect on binocular performance, reducing amounts of binocular summation. Electronic devices, including head-mounted displays and satellite navigation systems can seriously affect CS at low luminance levels, similar to those found when driving at night.

The loss of central vision subsequent to macular disease is often extremely debilitating. People with central field loss (CFL) must use other peripheral areas of the retina in order to see; areas with inferior resolution capacity, which are also affected by off-axis optical errors. The overall aim of the work encompassed by this thesis was to identify and evaluate methods of improving vision for people with CFL; with focus on the effects of off-axis optical correction and stimulus motion on resolution acuity and contrast sensitivity. Off-axis optical errors were measured using a commercially-available COAS-HD VR open-view aberrometer. We used adaptive psychophysical methods to evaluate grating resolution acuity and contrast sensitivity in the peripheral visual field; drifting gratings were employed to   measure the effect of motion on these two measures of visual performance. The effect of sphero-cylindrical correction and stimulus motion on visual performance in healthy eyes and in subjects with CFL was also studied; in addition, the effect of adaptive optics aberration correction was examined in one subject with CFL. The COAS-HD aberrometer provided rapid and reliable measurements of off-axis refractive errors. Correction of these errors gave improvements in low-contrast resolution acuity in subjects with higher amounts of oblique astigmatism. Optical correction also improved high-contrast resolution acuity in most subjects with CFL, but not for healthy subjects. Adaptive optics correction improved both high and low contrast resolution acuity in the preferred retinal locus of a subject with CFL. The effect of stimulus motion depended on spatial frequency; motion of 7.5 Hz improved contrast sensitivity for stimuli of low spatial frequency in healthy and CFL subjects. Motion of 15 Hz had little effect on contrast sensitivity for low spatial frequency but resulted in reduced contrast sensitivity for higher spatial frequencies in healthy subjects. Finally, high-contrast resolution acuity was relatively insensitive to stimulus motion in the periphery. This thesis has served to broaden the knowledge regarding peripheral optical errors, stimulus motion and their effects on visual function, both in healthy subjects and in people with CFL. Overall it has shown that correction of off-axis refractive errors is important for optimizing peripheral vision in subjects with CFL; the use of an open-view aberrometer simplifies the determination of these errors. In addition, moderate stimulus motion can have a beneficial effect on contrast sensitivity for objects of predominantly low spatial frequency.

Introdução: Ambliopia é uma alteração neurológica cortical causada por experiência visual anormal durante o período crítico do desenvolvimento visual. Trabalhos recentes vêm demonstrando que além das conhecidas alterações visuais classicamente descritas na ambliopia, como a acuidade visual, inúmeras funções perceptuais da visão (locais e globais) estão afetadas. Objetivo: Analisar e comparar o impacto de diferentes tipos de ambliopia no processamento visual de cor e sensibilidade ao contraste (SC). Material e métodos: Foram estudados 42 indivíduos amblíopes de 7-40 anos (estrabismo n=16, anisometropia n=18 e de causa mista n=8) e 33 controles pareados por idade. Testou-se a visão de cores pela medida de limiar de cromaticidade para os eixos protan, deutan e tritan com o Cambridge Color Test (CCT-v.02), a sensibilidade ao contraste (SC) espacial de luminância de primeira ordem para as frequências espaciais 0,4; 1,6; 3,2; 6,4; 12,8 cpg, segunda ordem para as frequências 0,4; 1,6; 3,2; 6,4 cpg e contraste radial para as frequências espaciais 0,4; 1,6; 3,2; 6,4; 12,8 cpg com o sistema Psyknematix (v.1.4.3. Kybervision Consulting R&D). Resultados: Não houve alteração na discriminação de cores em amblíopes; mas redução de sensibilidade ao contraste para estímulo linear de primeira ordem para a frequência espacial 0,4 cpg (F= 3,24, p= 0,027) nos olhos dominantes dos amblíopes estrábicos e 12,8 cpg (F= 6,71, p= 0,002) nos olhos não dominantes de indivíduos amblíopes por anisometropia e de causa mista; redução da SC de segunda ordem para a frequência espacial 6,4 cpg (F =5,30, p= 0,002) nos olhos não dominantes dos amblíopes anisométropes e mista e redução de SC radial para a frequência espacial 1,6cpg (F= 3,79; p= 0,014), 3,2cpg (F= 2,84; p= 0,044), 6,4cpg (F= 5,19; p= 0,003) e 12,8 cpg (F= 9,80; p< 0,001) nos olhos não dominantes do grupo de ambliopia mista e para a frequência espacial 12,8cpg para todos os grupos de ambliopia em relação aos controles. Conclusão: Não há impacto na discriminação de cores para nenhum tipo de ambliopia. Existem diferentes impactos para a sensibilidade ao contraste de distintos níveis de complexidade entre diferentes tipos de ambliopia, e o tipo mista apresenta pior desempenho para todas as funções, desde as mais elementares às mais complexas / Introduction: Amblyopia is a cortical neural disfunction caused by abnormal visual experience during critical period of visual development. Recent work has shown that beyond deficits on visual acuity many other perceptual visual functions (local and global) are affected. Purpose: To analyze and compare the impact of different types of amblyopia on visual processing of color vision and contrast sensitivity. Methods: We studied 42 amblyopes aged 7-40 years (strabismus n=16, anisometropia n=18 and mixed n=8 ) and 33 age-matched controls. We tested color vision by chromaticity threshold measurement for protan, deutan and tritan axes with Cambridge Color Test (CCT-v.2.0) and spatial contrast sensitivity of luminance (SC) of first order for spatial frequencies (sf) 0.4; 1.6; 3.2; 6.4; 12.8 cpd; second order for frequencies 0.4; 1.6; 3.2; 6.4 cpd and radial contrast for frequencies 0.4; 1.6; 3.2; 6.4; 12.8 cpd with Psyknematix System (v.1.4.3. Kybervision Consulting R&D). Results: Our results demonstrate no alterations on colour discrimination in amblyopes. Decrease of contrast sensitivity for first order stimuli for frequency 0.4 cpd (F = 3.24, p = 0.027) in dominant eyes of strabismic amblyopia and for 12.8 cpd (F = 6.71, p = 0.002) in nondominant eyes of amblyopic individuals with anisometropia and mixed cause; decrease of CS for second order stimuli for 12,8 cpd (F = 5.30, p = 0.002) in nondominant eyes of anisomotropic and mixed amblyopia and decrease of radial SC for frequency 1.6cpd (F = 3.79 , p = 0.014), 3.2cpd (F = 2.84, p = 0.044), 6.4cpd (F = 5.19, p = 0.003) and 12.8 cpd (F = 9.80, p <0.001 ) in non-dominant eyes of mixed amblyopia and for frequency 12.8 cpd for all amblyopia groups compared to control. Conclusion: There is no impact in color discrimination of any group of amblyopia. There are different impacts between types of amblyopia on contrast sensitivity of different levels of complexity. Mixed type presents the worst performance for all functions from the most elementary to the most complex stimuli

A esquizofrenia é um distúrbio mental debilitante que afeta aproximadamente 1% da população mundial, caracterizado por sintomas produtivos como delírios e alucinações e sintomas negativos como apatia e decréscimo das emoções. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a resposta do sistema visual humano de voluntários isentos de transtornos neuropsiquiátricos, portadores de esquizofrenia medicados e parentes não acometidos, utilizando a curva de sensibilidade ao contraste (FSC) escotópica e fotópica para estímulos de frequências espaciais com grades senoidais verticais e com grade senoidais angulares. As medidas de limiares ou sensibilidades ao contraste para grades senoidais verticais com frequências espaciais de 0,25; 2; 4 e 8 ciclos por grau de ângulo visual (cpg) e para grades senoidais angulares definidos com frequências espaciais de 3,0; 24; 48 e 96 ciclos/360° foram medidas com o método psicofísico da escolha forçada entre duas alternativas temporais. Os resultados mostram que os portadores de esquizofrenia apresentam prejuízo para os estímulos espaciais de grade senoidal vertical e angular em todas as frequências testadas e nas duas condições de luminância enquanto que os parentes não psicóticos apresentaram a sensibilidade ao contraste preservada para os dois estímulos nas duas condições de luminância. Estes dados sugerem prejuízos no processamento visual de contraste associados à esquizofrenia, sugerindo que esse transtorno altera as áreas visuais corticais de forma difusa. / Schizophrenia is a mental debilitating disorder that affects 1% of the world population. It is characterized by positive symptoms such as delirium and hallucinations and negative symptoms such as apathy and emotion decrease. The objective of this work was to characterize the response of the human visual system to vertical and angular sine-wave gratings in healthy adults (20-45 years of age), schizophrenia patients whom were receiving antipsychotic medications and unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients. We measured the contrast sensitivity functions for vertical sine-wave gratings of 0.25, 1, 2 and 8 cycles per degree (cpd) of visual angle and angular sine-wave gratings of 3, 24, 48 and 96 cycle/360o Contrast threshold was measured using a temporal two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) procedure with mean scotopic luminance of 0.06 cd/m2 and mean photopic luminance of 42 cd/m2. The results showed a decrease in sensitivity of schizophrenia patients to all the stimuli of vertical and angular sine-wave grating at all spatial frequencies and to the two luminance conditions, while the non-psychotic relatives showed preserved contrast sensitivity for the two stimuli in both luminance conditions. These data suggest that losses in the visual processing of contrast associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that this disorder alters the cortical visual areas in a diffuse way.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da desnutrição proteica em humanos e em modelo animal por meio de medidas comportamentais e bioquímicas. Participaram desse estudo 60 crianças com idade de 7 a 10 anos, sendo 20 eutróficas (grupo controle, GC), 20 com desnutrição atual (grupo experimental atual, GEa) e 20 com desnutrição pregressa (grupo experimental pregresso, GEp). Esses três grupos foram replicados em modelo animal, sendo cada grupo composto por 6 ratos wistar. A acuidade visual (AV) e a sensibilidade ao contraste (SC) foram medidas por meio do método psicofísico em humanos (experimento I) e em ratos (experimento II). Para a medida comportamental com animais foi desenvolvido o Labirinto de Imagens. As análises bioquímicas foram realizadas por meio da técnica de imunohistoquímica e de morfometria da retina de 5 animais de cada grupo (experimento III). Os resultados dos testes comportamentais em humanos e em animais mostraram prejuízos no desempenho dos grupos desnutridos, principalmente no GEp, mesmo com recuperação nutricional. O Labirinto de Imagens se mostrou uma ferramenta útil para medida de parâmetros visuais em roedores. Entretanto, as análises histológicas não apresentaram diferenças significantes entre os grupos, o que provavelmente se deve ao nível de análise não ser capaz de medir componentes sinápticos, arborização dendrítica ou do sistema de neurotransmissão / Not informed by the author