Cite as:
Ellemberg D, Johnson A P, Hansen B C, 2008, "Contrast detection thresholds for natural and \tb 1/\tbi f random noise images" Perception 37 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 76

Contrast detection thresholds for natural and \tb 1/\tbi f random noise images

D Ellemberg, A P Johnson, B C Hansen

We compared detection thresholds in children and adults with natural images and 1/f noise images for which a specific octave of spatial frequency was removed. Our data show that for children and adults, detection thresholds for natural images were increased by the removal of spatial content. Thresholds were most elevated when the frequencies removed were those for which the visual system is most sensitive to. Unlike grating contrast sensitivity which becomes adult-like at each frequency by 7 years of age, contrast sensitivity for natural images only becomes adult-like by about 10 years of age. Further, sensitivity matures less rapidly for middle frequency filtered natural images than for the lower and higher frequency filtered natural images. Because of the important developmental differences between traditional contrast sensitivity compared to natural image contrast sensitivity, the latter might be a more ecologically relevant tool to assess the limits of visual perception in children and individuals with a visual pathology. [Supported by an NSERC grant to DE.]

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