Abstract

The maximum spatial frequency for the detection and resolution of sinusoidal gratings was determined as a function of stimulus location across the visual field. Stimuli were produced directly on the retina as interference fringes, thus avoiding possible loss of image quality, which may occur when the optical system of the eye is used to form the retinal image. Contrary to earlier reports, we found that subjects could detect gratings with spatial frequencies much higher than the resolution limit. At 5° of eccentricity from the fovea, the detection limit was about three times the resolution limit, and this factor increased to about 10 as the test stimulus was moved 35° into the periphery. Quantitative comparison of the data with retinal anatomy and physiology suggests that pattern resolution is limited by the spacing of primate beta (midget) retinal ganglion cells, whereas pattern detection is limited by the size of individual cones.

© 1987 Optical Society of America

Spatial distributions of cone inputs to cells of the parvocellular pathway investigated with cone-isolating gratings

Barry B. Lee, Robert M. Shapley, Michael J. Hawken, and Hao Sun
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 29(2) A223-A232 (2012)

Peripheral spatial vision: limits imposed by optics, photoreceptors, and receptor pooling

Martin S. Banks, Allison B. Sekuler, and Stephen J. Anderson
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 8(11) 1775-1787 (1991)

Retinal ganglion-cell density and receptive-field size as determinants of photopic flicker sensitivity across the human visual field

Antti Raninen and Jyrki Rovamo
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4(8) 1620-1626 (1987)

Does cone positional disorder limit resolution?

Joy Hirsch and W. H. Miller
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4(8) 1481-1492 (1987)

Cortical magnification and peripheral vision

Veijo Virsu, Risto Näsänen, and Kari Osmoviita
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4(8) 1568-1578 (1987)