Wavelength Discrimination

Adapted from Wright & Pitt, 1934

 
  The above graph shows the minimum difference between two wavelengths (delta lambda) that can just be discriminated.  The figure on the left shows the field of view seen by the observer.  The top half of the hemifield contains the reference wavelength. The observer adjusts the wavelength of the bottom half, which is equal in brightness to the top until it is just noticeably different from the top half.  The wavelength in the bottom is reduced (-) half of the time and increased (+) half of the time to make these just noticeable difference adjustments.

The delta lambda with the bar over it in the graph represents the average of the increase and decrease wavelength difference that is just noticeable. Notice that near 500 nm and 600 nm observers can detect wavelength differences of about 1 nm. Near the ends of the
spectrum the top and bottom halves of the field need to be about 6 nm apart to be just noticeably different.

These data are appropriate to the conditions under which they were collected. The field 2 degrees and the retinal illuminance about 70 trolands. Bedford and Wyszecki cited in COLOR SCIENCE by Wyszecki and Stiles, 1982, showed that changing the retinal luminance and visual angle of the stimulus changes the function. The major changes are in vertical shifts.