Contrast sensitivity of individual colour mechanisms of human vision

1. Contrast sensitivity functions of isolated colour mechanisms were measured at spatial frequencies from 0-2 to 32 c/deg. The contrast sensitivity vs. spatial-frequency functions of the red (pi5) and green (pi4) mechanisms are similar, while the blue (pi3) mechanism has lower absolute sensitivity and lower resolving power. Isolation of a single mechanism never increases its maximum sensitivity. 2. The shape of the contrast sensitivity function of a colour mechanism is established within the mechanism. Little if any inhibitory interaction takes place among colour mechanisms. 3. Differences that have been reported between the sensitivities of the red and green mechanisms, as well as the apparent "supersensitivity" of the isolated green mechanism, may be artifacts that result from the extrapolation procedures that were used to estimate the absolute sensitivities of the colour mechanisms.