Dark adaptation and spectral sensitivity in the cat

Abstract

Photopic and scotopic spectral sensitivity functions were obtained from dark-adaptation curves using a behavioral tracking procedure. The dark adaptation process is much more rapid following light adaptation with the natural pupils than is the case when the pupils are artificially dilated. Dark-adaptation curves for test stimuli of various wavelengths showed a time course for cone and rod processes not unlike those found for humans but different from curves reported in an electrophysiological study of single retinal ganglion cells. Photopic and scotopic spectral sensitivity curves are compared with those of electrophysiological studies as well as with other behavioral studies of the cat's spectral sensitivity.