Dataset Information

Benefits of retinal image motion at the limits of spatial vision.

ABSTRACT: Even during fixation, our eyes are constantly in motion, creating an ever-changing signal in each photoreceptor. Neuronal processes can exploit such transient signals to serve spatial vision, but it is not known how our finest visual acuity-one that we use for deciphering small letters or identifying distant faces and objects-is maintained when confronted with such change. We used an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope to precisely control the spatiotemporal input on a photoreceptor scale in human observers during a visual discrimination task under conditions with habitual, cancelled or otherwise manipulated retinal image motion. We found that when stimuli moved, acuities were about 25% better than when no motion occurred, regardless of whether that motion was self-induced, a playback of similar motion, or an external simulation. We argue that in our particular experimental condition, the visual system is able to synthesize a higher resolution percept from multiple views of a poorly resolved image, a hypothesis that might extend the current understanding of how fixational eye motion serves high acuity vision.

SUBMITTER: Ratnam K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5283083 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Benefits of retinal image motion at the limits of spatial vision.

Ratnam Kavitha K Domdei Niklas N Harmening Wolf M WM Roorda Austin A

Journal of vision 20170101 1

Even during fixation, our eyes are constantly in motion, creating an ever-changing signal in each photoreceptor. Neuronal processes can exploit such transient signals to serve spatial vision, but it is not known how our finest visual acuity-one that we use for deciphering small letters or identifying distant faces and objects-is maintained when confronted with such change. We used an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope to precisely control the spatiotemporal input on a photoreceptor sc ...[more]

PMID: 28129414

Similar Datasets

Project description:PurposeTo establish age-related, normal limits of monocular and binocular spatial vision under photopic and mesopic conditions.MethodsPhotopic and mesopic visual acuity (VA) and contrast thresholds (CTs) were measured with both positive and negative contrast optotypes under binocular and monocular viewing conditions using the Acuity-Plus (AP) test. The experiments were carried out on participants (age range from 10 to 86 years), who met pre-established, normal sight criteria. Mean and ± 2.5σ limits were calculated within each 5-year subgroup. A biologically meaningful model was then fitted to predict mean values and upper and lower threshold limits for VA and CT as a function of age. The best-fit model parameters describe normal aging of spatial vision for each of the 16 experimental conditions investigated.ResultsOut of the 382 participants recruited for this study, 285 participants passed the selection criteria for normal aging. Log transforms were applied to ensure approximate normal distributions. Outliers were also removed for each of the 16 stimulus conditions investigated based on the ±2.5σ limit criterion. VA, CTs and the overall variability were found to be age-invariant up to ~50 years in the photopic condition. A lower, age-invariant limit of ~30 years was more appropriate for the mesopic range with a gradual, but accelerating increase in both mean thresholds and intersubject variability above this age. Binocular thresholds were smaller and much less variable when compared to the thresholds measured in either eye. Results with negative contrast optotypes were significantly better than the corresponding results measured with positive contrast (p < 0.004).ConclusionsThis project has established the expected age limits of spatial vision for monocular and binocular viewing under photopic and high mesopic lighting with both positive and negative contrast optotypes using a single test, which can be implemented either in the clinic or in an occupational setting.

Dataset Information

Benefits of retinal image motion at the limits of spatial vision.

Publications

Benefits of retinal image motion at the limits of spatial vision.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets