The Nature of Dark Adaptation

Craik, K. J. W.; Vernon, M. D.

doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1941.tb01010.x

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…One aspect of this is the reduction of resolving power which has been measured in man in psychophysical experiments (Koenig, 1897(Koenig, , 1903Broca, 1901; Hecht, 1928;Pirenne & Denton, 1952). Another aspect is the increased amount of area summation that occurs at low intensities (Lythgoe, 1940;Craik & Vernon, 1941;Barlkw, 1957). These changes in performance might result, in part at least, from changes in the nervous pathways in the retina.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Change of organization in the receptive fields of the cat's retina during dark adaptation

Barlow¹,

Fitzhugh²,

Kuffler³

1957

The Journal of Physiology

745

338

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Change of organization in the receptive fields of the cat's retina during dark adaptation

Barlow¹,

Fitzhugh²,

Kuffler³

1957

The Journal of Physiology

745

338

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“…The observed results, however, turn out to be more complex. For, though change of wave-length may simply result in the vertical shift of the curve (as discussed above) an increase in the area or duration of the flash does increase somewhat the extent of dark-adaptation and prolong the recovery time (Craik & Vernon, 1941;Arden & Weale, 1954). Other factors, therefore, besides the regeneration of rhodopsin must contribute to the increase of excitability during dark-adaptation-presumably a reorganization of nerve connexions, as Lythgoe (1940) pointed out long ago, and as electrophysiology has since confirmed (Barlow, Fitzhugh & Kuffler, 1957a, b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Dark‐adaptation and the regeneration of rhodopsin

Rushton¹

1961

The Journal of Physiology

122

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Ever since Kohlrausch (1922) measured dark-adaptation by plotting the logarithm of the threshold against the time in the dark, it has been clear that the recovery of visual sensitivity occurs in two stages. For, in general, the curve plotted exhibits two quasi-independent branches which meet at a pretty sharp kink. As Kohlrausch demonstrated, the early and faster process is associated with day vision: the later process with night vision. An enormous amount of subsequent work has substantiated this interpretation, but we are on much less secure grounds if we conclude (as is often done) that the first branch is concerned with cones only, the second with rods only and that there is no rod-cone interaction.The 'cone branch' is obtainable from the rod-free fovea; it has the spectral sensitivity of daylight vision, monochromatic test flashes are usually seen as coloured, acuity is good, and a large Stiles-Crawford effect is found. This is strong evidence that cones are involved, but weak evidence that rods are not involved. To be sure, they are not involved at the central fovea, but the cone branch there is not quite the same shape as that found at the parafovea, where rods are anatomically present (Hecht, Haig & Wald, 1935;Sloan, 1950).The 'rod branch' is obtainable from all parts of the retina where rods are present and is absent from the only places (fovea and blind spot) where they are not. This branch exhibits the spectral sensitivity of twilight vision which (after correction for absorption by the ocular media) corresponds very closely to the absorption spectrum of rhodopsin (Crescitelli & Dartnall, 1953), a photosensitive pigment which can be seen contained in the living rods (Boll, 1876). Test flashes appear colourless whatever their wave-length, acuity is poor and the Stiles-Crawford effect is small or absent. This is strong proof that rods are involved, but evidence is not so clear whether cones contribute or not. If rhodopsin is the only pigment which absorbs quanta at threshold throughout the second branch, then after any * Present address: Physiological Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

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“…Pressure blinding the eye during bleaching prevents any central record of the bleaching exposure, so the small bleach should produce more rapid recovery after pressure blinding, if its effect is central. This technique was used by Craik & Vernon in 1941 to show that the sensitivity loss after (large diameter) bleaches has a retinal origin, since dark adaptation was unaltered by pressure blinding.…”

Section: Binocular Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Lateral interactions in human cone dark adaptation.

Hayhoe¹

1979

The Journal of Physiology

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The Nature of Dark Adaptation

Cited by 25 publications

References 1 publication

Change of organization in the receptive fields of the cat's retina during dark adaptation

Change of organization in the receptive fields of the cat's retina during dark adaptation

Dark‐adaptation and the regeneration of rhodopsin

Lateral interactions in human cone dark adaptation.

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