Differential luminance sensitivity of the human visual system; a detection theoretical model based on psychophysical and electrophysiological data. Dissertatie Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen.

The differential luminance sensitivity of the human eye is investigated by methods derived from the theory of signal detection. The task of the Observer is to discriminate two flashes, which are presented simultaneously, or to detect the presence of a flash on a large background field. The intensities of this field are in the mesopic region. The theory of signal detection is based on the assumption that the observation of a test flash (stimulus) is disturbed by noise. Therefor, the noise limits the differential sensitivity. The results of the psychophysical experiments can be described by means of a particular detection model, i.e. the 'multirange meter model'. The multirange meter model consists of a transducer, which transforms the stimulus into neural activity, a communication channel in which noise is added to the activity, and a detector. The results of the psychophysical experiments are used to quantify the various components of the multirange meter model.