Muscular activity and perimetric thresholds

Static and kinetic peripheral luminance thresholds were measured by means of a Goldmann perimeter along oblique meridians in monocular vision. In a main group of 33 young and healthy subjects these measurements and visual reaction time assessments were made successively at rest, when cycling without load, when cycling with load using aerobic energy supply, when cycling with load using anaerobic energy supply and twice again at rest. Another group of subjects did not pedal and served as controls. The results show that peripheral visual sensitivity increases faintly but significantly during muscular exercise. When assessed by static perimetry the sensitivity increase is grossly proportional with load and is thus greatest in anaerobic condition, while kinetic sensitivity differs by a sensitivity decrease when passing from aerobic to anaerobic exercise. The reported modifications in perimetric sensitivity during dynamic muscular exercise seem related to changes in alertness.