
8.4 Measuring Visual Sensitivity 263
a model. The human visual system is sensitive to motion, particularly in the pe-
ripheral field where the motion-sensitive rods dominate. This may have developed
as an evolutionary need to quickly detect prey (or predators!) moving around us.
In any case, we are highly adapted to detect flicker
(flicker sensitivity)
in our pe-
ripheral field, and we possess a reflex reaction to turn toward any such sharp vi-
sual changes. Related to this is an individual's
critical fusion (or flicker) frequency
(CFF), the highest frequency at which the flicker ...