2023/02/06 by Ernest Greene, Greene, Ernest, Jack Morrison +1
Neuroscience · #FOS: Biological sciences #Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies #Neural dynamics and brain function #Neurons and Cognition (q-bio.NC) #Visual perception and processing mechanisms
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2302.07140
openalex publication_date 2023/02/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Talbot-Plateau law asserts that when the flux (light energy) of a flicker-fused stimulus equals the flux of a steady stimulus, they will appear equal in brightness. To be perceived as flicker-fused, the frequency of the flash sequence must be high enough that no flicker is perceived, i.e., it appears to be a steady stimulus. Generally, this law has been accepted as being true across all brightness levels, and across all combinations of flash duration and frequency that generate the matching flux level. Two experiments that were conducted to test the law found significant departures from its predictions, but these were small relative to the large range of flash intensities that were tested.