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Limits of colour vision in dim light

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Author

Summary, in English

Humans and most vertebrates have duplex retinae with multiple cone types for colour vision in bright light, and one single rod type for achromatic vision in dim light. Instead of comparing signals from multiple spectral types of photoreceptors, such species use one highly sensitive receptor type thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio at night. However, the nocturnal hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor, the nocturnal bee Xylocopa tranquebarica and the nocturnal gecko Tarentola chazaliae can discriminate colours at extremely dim light intensities. To be able to do so, they sacrifice spatial and temporal resolution in favour of colour vision. We review what is known about colour vision in dim light, and compare colour vision thresholds with the optical sensitivity of the photoreceptors in selected animal species with lens and compound eyes.

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

454-459

Publication/Series

Opthalmic and Physiological Optics

Volume

30

Issue

5

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Zoology

Keywords

  • intensity threshold
  • dim light vision
  • Colour vision
  • compound eyes
  • optical sensitivity
  • lens eyes

Conference name

20th Biennial Symposium of the International-Colour-Vision-Society

Conference date

2009-07-24 - 2009-07-28

Conference place

Braga, Portugal

Status

Published

Research group

  • Lund Vision Group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0275-5408
  • ISSN: 1475-1313