Formulae for generating standard and individual human cone spectral sensitivities

Area of Science:

• Vision Science
• Colorimetry
• Photoreceptor Physiology

Background:

• Normal color perception relies on three cone photoreceptor types: long (L), middle (M), and short (S) wavelength-sensitive cones.
• Standardized cone spectral sensitivities (LMS) are crucial for modeling human color vision and applications like color matching.
• Existing CIE standards provide discrete LMS sensitivities, which may not capture population variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop continuous mathematical formulae for LMS cone spectral sensitivities and ocular pigment density spectra.
• To enable accurate modeling of individual differences in color vision, including normal and red-green color vision deficiencies.
• To provide a flexible tool for calculating non-standard color matching functions.

Main Methods:

• Derived continuous functions for L-, M-, and S-cone spectral sensitivities from 360 to 850 nm.
• Included formulae for macular and lens pigment density spectra.
• Validated functions by comparing their output to existing discrete CIE standard LMS sensitivities.

Main Results:

• Continuous formulae accurately reproduce established discrete CIE LMS cone spectral sensitivities for 2- and 10-degree observers.
• The formulae allow for the computation of non-standard cone sensitivities accounting for individual variations in ocular media and photopigments.
• The approach supports the modeling of spectrally shifted photopigments relevant to color vision deficiencies.

Conclusions:

• The developed continuous functions offer a more precise and adaptable method for representing human cone spectral sensitivities.
• These formulae facilitate personalized modeling of color vision and the development of tailored colorimetric applications.
• This work provides a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in vision science and color technology.