Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Central Adaptation in Mechanisms of Form Vision

Abstract

PERCEPTION of any visual pattern is subject to three well-known forms of adaptation. In the first place a ‘negative after-image’ is formed which tends to reduce the contrast between the brightnesses of neighbouring areas. Secondly, after more prolonged fixation, peripheral parts of the visual field tend to fade from view in large patches. With a stabilized retinal image, it is well known that a third type of adaptation can occur, in which the whole field fades and reappears intermittently.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. MacKay, D. M., Nature, 180, 849 (1957).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lettvin, J. Y., Maturana, H. R., McCulloch, W. S., and Pitts, W. H., Proc. Inst. Radio Eng., N.Y., 47, 1940 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hubel, D. H., and Wiesel, T. N., J. Physiol., 148, 574 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Arden, G. B., J. Physiol., 166, 468 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. MacKay, D. M., in Sensory Communication, edit. by Rosenblith, W. A., 339 (M.I.T. and Wiley, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  6. MacKay, D. M., Nature, 180, 1145 (1957).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MACKAY, D. Central Adaptation in Mechanisms of Form Vision. Nature 203, 993–994 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203993b0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/203993b0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing