Rod-cone interaction in flicker detection

Abstract

There is considerable evidence in the literature that rod-cone interaction occurs when both rods and cones simultaneously detect a test target. More recent evidence, however, has shown a parafoveal rod-cone interaction during dark adaptation for a purely cone-detected flickering test stimulus; this influence on cone threshold appears to be mediated by surrounding rods. In this study, we demonstrate a similar rod-mediated influence on parafoveal cone-detected flicker threshold. More surprisingly, foveal cone-detected thresholds are also influenced by rods. This effect occurs over at least a 2 log unit intensity range of mesopic background level; cone-detected 25 Hz flicker sensitivity is enhanced by increasing the radiance of the background. The action spectrum of this effect fits the scotopic spectral sensitivity curve. At higher background levels, this rod-cone interaction disappears and surrounding cone activity then influences the cone flicker threshold. The results suggest that, as rods recover sensitivity, they reduce cone-detected flicker sensitivity, even at the fovea. The rod influence on cone flicker is most apparent for long wavelength test stimuli. Our results, in agreement with recent reports, suggest that the rod-cone interaction is laterally-mediated and may be specific for the long wavelength-sensitive cone type.