Dark Adaptation as a Function of Age: I. A Statistical Analysis

McFarland, Ross A.; Domey, Richard G.; Warren, A. Bertrand; Ward, David C.

doi:10.1093/geronj/15.2.149

Cited by 83 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…There is however accumulating evidence, from psychophysical tests, that rod function is affected with age [1][2][3][4][5]. Such findings are in agreement with histological studies showing a reduction of rod photoreceptors with aging [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans

et al. 2011

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We evaluated the full field electroretinogram (ERG) to assess age-related changes in retina function in humans. ERG recordings were performed on healthy subjects with normal fundus appearance, lack of cataract and 20/20 acuity, aged 20-39 years (n = 27; mean age 25 ± 5, standard deviation), 40-59 years (n = 20; mean 53 ± 5), and 60-82 years (n = 18; mean 69 ± 5). Multiple ERG tests were applied, including light and dark-adapted stimulus-response function, dark adaptation and dynamic of recovery from a single bright flash under dark-adapted conditions. Changes in ERG properties were found in the oldest age group when compared with the two younger age groups. (1) The photopic hill effect was less pronounced. (2) Both photopic a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times were increased at high stimulus strengths. (3) Dark adaptation time was delayed for pure rod and L/M cone-driven responses, respectively. (4) Dark-adapted a-wave but not b-wave amplitudes were reduced, yielding higher B/A ratios. (5) Dark-adapted a- and b-waves implicit times were prolonged: there was a direct proportional correlation between minimal a-wave implicit times and age. (6) The dynamic of dark current recovery from a bright flash, under dark-adapted conditions, was transiently faster at intervals between 0.9 and 2 s. These results denote that aging of the healthy retina is accompanied by specific functional changes, which must be taken into account to optimally diagnose potential pathologies.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans

et al. 2011

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“…Considerable evidence has been gathered showing that changes in the eye do, in fact, accompany aging. McFarland et al (1960) attributed the deficits that they observed to changes in retinal metabolism observed in the aged. Furthermore, yellowing of the lens and increased absorption of shorter wavelengths seen with aging (Said & Weale, 1959) would handicap the aged subjects in the study by McFarland et at.…”

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confidence: 97%

Age and visual sensitivity in the rat

Goetsch

Isaac

1982

Psychobiology

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“…Birren (1959) also found significant age declines in sensory processes, including visual sensitivity, in the human. These differences may be explained at least partially as the result of age-related changes in the peripheral visual apparatus such as deterioration of the retina (McFarland et al, 1960) and yellowing of the lens (Said & Weale, 1959).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of occipital ablation on visual sensitivity in young and old rats

Goetsch

Isaac

1983

Psychobiology

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The effect of occipital ablation on the visual sensitivity to low levels of illumination in young and old rats was studied using a signal detection task. A significant decrease in sensitivity following ablation was found for both age groups, which could be eliminated by increasing the apparent brightness of the visual stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of the role of the occipital cortex in detecting low levels of illumination.Research concerning the effects of occipital ablation on absolute visual threshold has produced a wide range of results. Marquis (1934) found that occipital ablation produced no effect on absolute visual threshold in dogs. Brigman and Smith (1942) found a five hundredfold increase in absolute visual threshold in cats following total occipital ablation and a fivefold increase in threshold following partial occipital ablation. Further, the findings of Bridgmen and Smith (1942) demonstrate that the deficits seen are not a consequence of cortical insult, but are the consequence of total ablation of the visual projection cortex. Recently, Kenshalo (1976) found an increase in the absolute visual threshold of rats following bilateral occipital ablation.After finding that the performance of occipitally ablated rats on a light-dark discrimination task was inferior at intensities well above visual threshold as well as at lower intensities, Cooper, Freeman, and Pinel (1967) suggested that performance deficits were due to postoperative changes in the sensory criterion (the sensory level set by the subject for deciding whether a visual signal was administered or not) rather than to a deficit in visual sensitivity. Lashley (1935) also suggested that deficits on a light-dark discrimination task following occipital ablation were due to a decrease in the subjects' attention. In support of this suggestion, Krechevsky (1936) found that the performance of rats following occipital ablation approached the performance of normal animals when using shock, thereby increasing the attention of the subjects. However, Kenshalo (1976) found no difference in false-alarm rates between occipitally ablated rats and sham-operated animals on a signal detection task using low levels of illumination. Changes in sensory criterion can be observed as changes in false positive or false negative responses, and therefore may reflect changes in motivation or attentional levels (Shiffman, 1976). Thus, Kenshalo's findingsThe authors' mailing address is:

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Dark Adaptation as a Function of Age: I. A Statistical Analysis

Cited by 83 publications

References 0 publications

Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans

Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans

Age and visual sensitivity in the rat

The effect of occipital ablation on visual sensitivity in young and old rats

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