Red-green color discrimination in peripheral vision

Abstract

Color discrimination thresholds were measured for four colors from the red-green portion of the visible spectrum. Thresholds were measured for a stimulus field 1.5 deg in diameter in the fovea and at three locations on the nasal retina (eccentricities of 5, 20 and 40 deg). Outside the fovea thresholds increased exponentially with eccentricity and the slope of the function was similar for all four standard colors. Peripheral thresholds were adequately described by an equation developed for foveal red-green thresholds by Boynton and Kambe [(1980) Color Research and Applications, 5, 13–23] and also by a modified form of this equation containing a rod term. Differences between foveal and peripheral thresholds were characterized by changes in two coefficients in the equations. The CIELUV color difference equation also provided a reasonably good description of peripheral thresholds.