Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults
The aim of the present study was to measure contrast sensitivity curves for angular frequencies in the range between 2 and 96 cycles/360º in older human adult volunteers and to compare these measurements with the more usual contrast sensitivity functions for sine-wave gratings. All subjects were fre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2004-03-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2004000300014 |
| _version_ | 1818174294655500288 |
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| author | N.A. Santos M.L.B. Simas R.M.T.B.L. Nogueira |
| author_facet | N.A. Santos M.L.B. Simas R.M.T.B.L. Nogueira |
| author_sort | N.A. Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of the present study was to measure contrast sensitivity curves for angular frequencies in the range between 2 and 96 cycles/360º in older human adult volunteers and to compare these measurements with the more usual contrast sensitivity functions for sine-wave gratings. All subjects were free of identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. We measured the contrast thresholds for young adults (N = 6; age range, 20-26 years) and older adults (N = 6; age range, 60-67 years) using the psychophysical forced-choice method. In this paradigm the volunteers had to choose the stimulus containing a test frequency at low contrast (e.g., either a sine-wave grating or an angular frequency stimulus), or another neutral stimulus at mean luminance (without any contrast). Older adults presented a loss in contrast sensitivity at high and medium angular frequencies compared to the young adults (i.e., from 8 to 96 cycles/360º). Contrary to expectation, contrast sensitivity at low angular frequencies, i.e., 2 and 4 cycles/360º, was better for the older group than for the younger group. On the other hand, contrast sensitivity for sine-wave gratings at 3 and 4 cpd was higher for young adults as expected. These results suggest age-related changes in the contrast sensitivity function for angular frequencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:42:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd75bda1c7144d7794a13a4f38e0f9e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0100-879X 1414-431X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:42:07Z |
| publishDate | 2004-03-01 |
| publisher | Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd75bda1c7144d7794a13a4f38e0f9e42022-12-22T00:53:00ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research0100-879X1414-431X2004-03-0137337537810.1590/S0100-879X2004000300014Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adultsN.A. SantosM.L.B. SimasR.M.T.B.L. NogueiraThe aim of the present study was to measure contrast sensitivity curves for angular frequencies in the range between 2 and 96 cycles/360º in older human adult volunteers and to compare these measurements with the more usual contrast sensitivity functions for sine-wave gratings. All subjects were free of identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. We measured the contrast thresholds for young adults (N = 6; age range, 20-26 years) and older adults (N = 6; age range, 60-67 years) using the psychophysical forced-choice method. In this paradigm the volunteers had to choose the stimulus containing a test frequency at low contrast (e.g., either a sine-wave grating or an angular frequency stimulus), or another neutral stimulus at mean luminance (without any contrast). Older adults presented a loss in contrast sensitivity at high and medium angular frequencies compared to the young adults (i.e., from 8 to 96 cycles/360º). Contrary to expectation, contrast sensitivity at low angular frequencies, i.e., 2 and 4 cycles/360º, was better for the older group than for the younger group. On the other hand, contrast sensitivity for sine-wave gratings at 3 and 4 cpd was higher for young adults as expected. These results suggest age-related changes in the contrast sensitivity function for angular frequencies.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2004000300014Human agingSpatial frequencyAngular frequencyContrast sensitivityForced-choice method |
| spellingShingle | N.A. Santos M.L.B. Simas R.M.T.B.L. Nogueira Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Human aging Spatial frequency Angular frequency Contrast sensitivity Forced-choice method |
| title | Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| title_full | Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| title_short | Comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| title_sort | comparison of angular frequency contrast sensitivity in young and older adults |
| topic | Human aging Spatial frequency Angular frequency Contrast sensitivity Forced-choice method |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2004000300014 |
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