Color perception with test and adapting lights perceived in different depth planes
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Updated: Nov 5, 2026

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
Published on: April 24, 2017
1Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. shevell@uchicago.edu
Abstract:
Adapting to a chromatic light can alter the color appearance of other lights in view. The chromatic adapting effect is measured here with the test and adapting field perceived in the same depth plane, or perceived in different depth planes (using stereo disparity). The measurements show only a weak, though consistent, shift in the appearance of the test when adapting field and test are perceived in different depth planes, compared to when they are in the same plane. Adding complexity to the adapting stimulus, in the form of a second chromatic light surrounding the background, alters the appearance of the test but shows no dependence on the depth relations. Overall, there is only a small difference in chromatic adaptation caused by introducing a three-dimensional representation of these stimuli.
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