CONTRAST SENSATION - LINEAR FUNCTION OF STIMULUS CONTRAST

The method of magnitude estimation was used to determine the relationship between stimulus contrast and contrast sensation [human] for stimulus contrasts from 0.63%-60% at spatial frequencies of 1, 2, 6.5 and 12 cycles/degree. The relationship between contrast sensation and stimulus contrast was linear over the entire range of stimulus contrasts and spatial frequencies studied. A theoretical function for contrast sensation is proposed and the concept of a contrast sensation surface is introduced. Constant contrast sensation contours derived from this surface fit data from contrast matching experiments performed in other laboratories.