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We review the features of the S-cone system that appeal to the psychophysicist and summarize the celebrated characteristics of S-cone mediated vision. Two factors are emphasized: First, the fine stimulus control that is required to isolate putative visual mechanisms and second, the relationship between physiological data and psychophysical approaches. We review convergent findings from physiology and psychophysics with respect to asymmetries in the retinal wiring of S-ON and S-OFF visual pathways, and the associated treatment of increments and decrements in the S-cone system. Beyond the retina, we consider the lack of S-cone projections to superior colliculus and the use of S-cone stimuli in experimental psychology, for example to address questions about the mechanisms of visually driven attention. Careful selection of stimulus parameters enables psychophysicists to produce entirely reversible, temporary, "lesions," and to assess behavior in the absence of specific neural subsystems.

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/S0952523814000030

Type

Journal article

Journal

Vis Neurosci

Publication Date

03/2014

Volume

31

Pages

211 - 225

Keywords

Adaptation, Physiological, Aging, Attention, Blindness, Cortical, Color Perception, Color Vision, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Psychophysics, Reaction Time, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Sensory Thresholds, Superior Colliculi, Visual Pathways