Spatial-Temporal Interactions: Contrast Sensitivity as a Function of Spatial and Temporal Frequency, Luminance and Stimulus Position on the Retina.

Constrast sensitivity for gratings sinusoidally modulated in time and space was determined as a function of luminance and stimulus position on the retina. For a given luminance and retinal position, contrast sensitivity as a function of both spatial and temporal frequency defined a contrast sensitivity surface. Luminance and retinal position were found to affect the overall level of sensitivity as well as the shape of the sensitivity surface. The sensitivity to higher spatial frequencies was greatly diminished when the grating was presented off axis. In general, at any given temporal frequency, maximum sensitivity occurred at some middle spatial frequency. The application of the results to the design of displays is discussed.