Volume 9, Number 4, Article 30, Pages 1-23 doi:10.1167/9.4.30 http://journalofvision.org/9/4/30/ ISSN 1534-7362
Two contrast adaptation processes: Contrast normalization and shifting, rectifying contrast comparison
S. Sabina Wolfson
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Norma Graham
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract

We present psychophysical results demonstrating the interaction of two contrast adaptation processes in human vision: (1) A contrast‐gain‐control process of the normalization type and (2) a recently‐discovered shifting, rectifying contrast‐comparison process. Observers adapted (for 1 s) to a grid of Gabor patches at one contrast, then a brief (94 ms) test pattern was shown, and then the adapt pattern was shown again (1 s). The test pattern was the same as the adapt pattern except that the Gabor patches had two different contrasts arranged to create vertical or horizontal contrast-defined stripes. Observers identified the orientation of the test pattern's stripes. Performance is a complicated (“butterfly shaped”) function of the average test contrast, centered at the adapt contrast. This shape is a consequence of the interaction of the two contrast adaptation processes. At the ends of the function are “Weber zones” in which the contrast‐gain‐control process dominates, and at the center of the function is a “Buffy zone” in which the recently‐discovered contrast‐comparison process dominates.

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History
Received July 7, 2008; published April 30, 2009
Citation
Wolfson, S. S., & Graham, N. (2009). Two contrast adaptation processes: Contrast normalization and shifting, rectifying contrast comparison. Journal of Vision, 9(4):30, 1-23, http://journalofvision.org/9/4/30/, doi:10.1167/9.4.30.
Keywords
contrast gain, masking, texture, contrast adaptation, second order, rapid adaptation
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