On using very high temporal frequencies to isolate magnocellular contributions to psychophysical tasks

Abstract

In connection with dyslexia several authors have sought to employ stimuli of very high temporal frequency to isolate magnocellular contributions to visual tasks. It is here pointed out that considerable evidence indicate that the ability to see the very highest temporal frequencies is limited by cortical mechanisms. This suggests that variations and abnormalities in this ability may reflect cortical factors rather than magnocellular ones. It is therefore difficult to rely upon very high temporal frequency stimuli to isolate contributions from the magnocellular system.