Adaptation to polarized light in humans

Recent investigators reported large adaptational effects in human vision dependent on the plane of linearly polarized light. In the present study, such adaptational effects were observed to be small or insignificant. Our observers adapted to intense homogenous, foveal fields of linearly polarized, orange-red light produced by a beam that entered the side of the pupil. Periodically the plane of polarization of the beam suddenly shifted 90 degrees without there being any change in the spectral distribution of the light or position of the beam in the pupil plane. The change of radiance of the beam could be adjusted to be as low as approx. 0.5%. Signal detection experiments revealed that observers typically could not detect a change of polarization of the field. Results obtained with the method of adjustment showed that the threshold of an increment flash presented on the intense field was not affected by changing the polarization of the field. Physiological implications of these results are discussed.

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