Abstract

We have developed several psychophysical measures that may reflect the neuropharmacological control of center-surround interactions within the human visual system (Comerford et al 1990, 1991). We have been particularly interested in patients with Parkinson’s disease, a disease associated with destruction of the dopaminergic neurons of the Substantia Nigra (Comerford et al 1995). Recent evidence suggests that this disease also affects the dopaminergic neurons of the retina (Nguyen-Legros 1988). These retinal neurons release dopamine maximally under photopic conditions and are associated with an increase in surround inhibition in the center-surround balance of retinal receptive fields.

© 1997 Optical Society of America