Spatial contrast sensitivity of the tree shrew

Spatial contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) were measured for 3 tree shrews. Our two-alternative forced-choice discrimination paradigm required the animals to discriminate a vertical sine-wave luminance grating from a homogeneous field of the same size (16 degrees) and mean luminance (35 cd/m2). Spatial frequencies tested ranged from 0.1 to 2.0 c/deg and grating contrast was varied trial-by-trial using a modified staircase technique. Small between-subject variations in the shape of the CSFs appeared to be correlated with our estimates of refractive error for each animal. In general, the CSFs were of the typical band-pass type with peak sensitivity occurring at approximately 0.7 c/deg. Estimates of grating acuity derived from the CSFs ranged from 1.2 to 2.4 c/deg and are within the limitations set by the eye size and retinal anatomy of the tree shrew.