Eigengrau (German for "intrinsic gray"; pronounced [ˈʔaɪ̯gŋ̍ˌgʁaʊ̯]), also called Eigenlicht (Dutch and German for "intrinsic light"), dark light, or brain gray, is the uniform dark gray background color that many people report seeing in the absence of light. The term Eigenlicht dates back to the nineteenth century,[1] but has rarely been used in recent scientific publications. Common scientific terms for the phenomenon include "visual noise" or "background adaptation". These terms arise due to the perception of an ever-changing field of tiny black and white dots seen in the phenomenon.[2]
Eigengrau is perceived as lighter than a black object in normal lighting conditions, because contrast is more important to the visual system than absolute brightness.[3] For example, the night sky looks darker than Eigengrau because of the contrast provided by the stars.
Cause
Researchers noticed early on[when?] that the shape of intensity-sensitivity curves could be explained by assuming that an intrinsic source of noise in the retina produces random events indistinguishable from those triggered by real photons.[4][5] Later experiments on rod cells of cane toads (Rhinella marina) showed that the frequency of these spontaneous events is strongly temperature-dependent, which implies that they are caused by the thermal isomerization of rhodopsin.[6] In human rod cells, these events occur about once every 100 seconds on average, which, taking into account the number of rhodopsin molecules in a rod cell, implies that the half-life of a rhodopsin molecule is about 420 years.[7] The indistinguishability of dark events from photon responses supports this explanation, because rhodopsin is at the input of the transduction chain. On the other hand, processes such as the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters cannot be completely ruled out.[8]
^Ladd, Trumbull (1894). "Direct control of the retinal field". Psychological Review. 1 (4): 351–55. doi:10.1037/h0068980.
^Hansen RM, Fulton AB (January 2000). "Background adaptation in children with a history of mild retinopathy of prematurity". Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 41 (1): 320–24. PMID 10634637.
^Wallach, Hans (1948). "Brightness Constancy and the Nature of Achromatic Colors". Journal of Experimental Psychology. 38 (3): 310–24. doi:10.1037/h0053804. PMID 18865234.
^Barlow, H.B. (1972). "Dark and Light Adaptation: Psychophysics.". Visual Psychophysics. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN978-0-387-05146-8.
^Barlow, H.B. (1977). "Retinal and Central Factors in Human Vision Limited by Noise". Vertebrate Photoreception. New York: Academic Press. ISBN978-0-12-078950-4.
^Baylor, D.A.; Matthews, G; Yau, K.-W. (1980). "Two components of electrical dark noise in toad retinal rod outer segments". Journal of Physiology. 309: 591–621. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013529. PMC1274605. PMID 6788941.
^Baylor, Denis A. (1 January 1987). "Photoreceptor Signals and Vision". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 28 (1): 34–49. PMID 3026986.
^Shapley, Robert; Enroth-Cugell, Christina (1984). "Visual Adaptation and Retinal Gain Controls". Progress in Retinal Research. 3: 263–346. doi:10.1016/0278-4327(84)90011-7.
March 19, 2023
eigengrau, german, intrinsic, gray, pronounced, ˈʔaɪ, ˌgʁaʊ, also, called, eigenlicht, dutch, german, intrinsic, light, dark, light, brain, gray, uniform, dark, gray, background, color, that, many, people, report, seeing, absence, light, term, eigenlicht, date. Eigengrau German for intrinsic gray pronounced ˈʔaɪ gŋ ˌgʁaʊ also called Eigenlicht Dutch and German for intrinsic light dark light or brain gray is the uniform dark gray background color that many people report seeing in the absence of light The term Eigenlicht dates back to the nineteenth century 1 but has rarely been used in recent scientific publications Common scientific terms for the phenomenon include visual noise or background adaptation These terms arise due to the perception of an ever changing field of tiny black and white dots seen in the phenomenon 2 Eigengrau is perceived as lighter than a black object in normal lighting conditions because contrast is more important to the visual system than absolute brightness 3 For example the night sky looks darker than Eigengrau because of the contrast provided by the stars Cause EditResearchers noticed early on when that the shape of intensity sensitivity curves could be explained by assuming that an intrinsic source of noise in the retina produces random events indistinguishable from those triggered by real photons 4 5 Later experiments on rod cells of cane toads Rhinella marina showed that the frequency of these spontaneous events is strongly temperature dependent which implies that they are caused by the thermal isomerization of rhodopsin 6 In human rod cells these events occur about once every 100 seconds on average which taking into account the number of rhodopsin molecules in a rod cell implies that the half life of a rhodopsin molecule is about 420 years 7 The indistinguishability of dark events from photon responses supports this explanation because rhodopsin is at the input of the transduction chain On the other hand processes such as the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters cannot be completely ruled out 8 See also EditClosed eye hallucination Impossible color Visual snowReferences Edit Ladd Trumbull 1894 Direct control of the retinal field Psychological Review 1 4 351 55 doi 10 1037 h0068980 Hansen RM Fulton AB January 2000 Background adaptation in children with a history of mild retinopathy of prematurity Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41 1 320 24 PMID 10634637 Wallach Hans 1948 Brightness Constancy and the Nature of Achromatic Colors Journal of Experimental Psychology 38 3 310 24 doi 10 1037 h0053804 PMID 18865234 Barlow H B 1972 Dark and Light Adaptation Psychophysics Visual Psychophysics New York Springer Verlag ISBN 978 0 387 05146 8 Barlow H B 1977 Retinal and Central Factors in Human Vision Limited by Noise Vertebrate Photoreception New York Academic Press ISBN 978 0 12 078950 4 Baylor D A Matthews G Yau K W 1980 Two components of electrical dark noise in toad retinal rod outer segments Journal of Physiology 309 591 621 doi 10 1113 jphysiol 1980 sp013529 PMC 1274605 PMID 6788941 Baylor Denis A 1 January 1987 Photoreceptor Signals and Vision Investigative Ophthalmology amp Visual Science 28 1 34 49 PMID 3026986 Shapley Robert Enroth Cugell Christina 1984 Visual Adaptation and Retinal Gain Controls Progress in Retinal Research 3 263 346 doi 10 1016 0278 4327 84 90011 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eigengrau amp oldid 1122151231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
