Color discrimination in heterozygous deutan carriers

Is the Helmholtz–Kohlrausch Effect More Robust in Women?

For gray or achromatic objects, brightness is a relatively simple transformation where very low luminance levels are perceived as black and higher levels are perceived as white. For chromatic objects, the transformation is more complex, depending on color purity as well. This influence of color purity on a color’s perceived brightness is a well-established phenomenon known as the Helmholtz–Kohlrausch (H-K) effect. We investigated gender differences in the H-K effect by measuring brightness (via direct brightness matching [DBM]) and luminance (via heterochromatic flicker photometry [HFP]) at five wavelengths (450, 520, 560, 580, and 650 nm) perceived as blue, green, green-yellow, yellow, and red hues. We compared DBM/HFP ratios between 13 males and 18 females. Based on previous evidence of a female advantage in chromatic processes, we hypothesized that DBM/HFP ratios would be higher in female subjects. While HFP measures were essentially the same between male and female subjects, DBM measures and DBM/HFP ratios were significantly higher for female subjects than males. There were no significant effects of contraceptive use based on a post hoc comparison. We also derived simple models of brightness as a function of luminance and saturation, which further suggest gender dimorphism in the H-K effect.

Color Perception in Protanomalous Female Macaca fascicularis

Protanomalous females with X chromosome-linked color vision deficiency exhibit mild abnormalities, whereas dichromats show a distinct deficiency in discriminating certain color pairs. Dichromats have an advantage in detecting a textured target when it is camouflaged by red-green colors, owing to their insensitivity to these colors. However, it is not certain whether protanomalous females possess a similar advantage in breaking camouflage. Here, we introduce an animal model of dichromatic macaque monkeys and protanomalous females. We examined whether protanomalous females have the same advantage in breaking color camouflage as shown by dichromatic macaques. We also tested whether they could discriminate a certain color pair that trichromats could, where the dichromats are confused. Our experiments show that protanomalous macaques can break color camouflage, similar to dichromats, and can discriminate colors similarly to trichromats. Protanomalous females are thus thought to have the combined ecological advantages of being both trichromats and dichromats.

Performance of normal females and carriers of color-vision deficiencies on standard color-vision tests

Carriers of red-green color-vision deficiencies are generally thought to behave like normal trichromats, although it is known that they may make errors on Ishihara plates. The aim here was to compare the performance of carriers with that of normal females on seven standard color-vision tests, including Ishihara plates. One hundred and twenty-six normal females, 14 protan carriers, and 29 deutan carriers aged 9-66 years were included in the study. Generally, deutan carriers performed worse than protan carriers and normal females on six out of the seven tests. The difference in performance between carriers and normal females was independent of age, but the proportion of carriers that made errors on pseudo-isochromatic tests increased with age. It was the youngest carriers, however, who made the most errors. There was considerable variation in performance among individuals in each group of females. The results are discussed in relation to variability in the number of different L-cone pigments.

Normality of colour vision in a compound heterozygous female carrying protan and deutan defects

BACKGROUND

Inherited red-green colour vision defects are quite common, affecting one in 12 males, but are less common in women, affecting about one in 250. Because red-green defects are X-linked, nearly 15 per cent of females are heterozygous carriers of red-green colour deficiency. In addition, about one in 150 females are 'double carriers', where both of their X chromosomes have L/M gene arrays encoding a red-green defect. If a woman carries the same type of colour vision defect on each X-chromosome, she will be red-green colour deficient, whereas if she carries opposing defects (protan versus deutan) on each X chromosome, she will have normal colour vision, owing to the process of X-inactivation. These women are referred to as compound heterozygotes, though very few have been reported. Questions remain about whether the colour vision capacity of these women is comparable to that of 'normal' trichromats.

METHODS

We examined a compound heterozygote carrier of both protanopia and deuteranomaly. We also examined male members of her family representing both forms of red-green defect carried by the female proband. Complete colour vision testing was done, including Rayleigh matches, pseudoisochromatic plates, unique hue measurements and 100-Hue tests. Flicker-photometric ERG estimates of L : M cone ratio were obtained, as were Medmont C100 settings.

RESULTS

Genetic analyses provided direct confirmation of compound heterozygosity. The compound heterozygote showed Schmidt's sign, consistent with an extreme skew in her L : M cone ratio and usually associated with protan carrier status.

CONCLUSION

Apart from Schmidt's sign, we found the colour vision of the compound heterozygote to be indistinguishable from that of a normal trichromat.

Colour-space distortion in women who are heterozygous for colour deficiency

We examined colour perception among a group of women heterozygous for colour vision deficiency. Judgements of colour dissimilarity were collected by presenting colour stimuli in groups of three for odd-one-out decisions. The judgements were summarised as one consensus colour space for the heterozygotes and another for age-matched controls. Individual differences MDS was also applied, resulting in a single colour space which can be adjusted to fit each subject's responses individually by compressing it along its axes. Heterozygous women showed a trend towards colour-space compression in a red-green dimension, or reduced salience of that dimension compared to controls, though less extreme than found in overt colour deficiency.

The reliability of the Lanthony Desaturated D-15 test

PURPOSE

The Lanthony Desaturated Panel D-15 has been used to measure fine color discrimination for congenital and acquired color vision defects. This study investigated the test-retest reliability of the test using an intertest interval of approximately 1 month.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-six color vision normals (mean age = 34.5 years) were administered several color vision tests, including the Lanthony Desaturated D-15. Normal color vision status was confirmed using the anomaloscope and HRR color plates. The color vision tests were readministered 3 to 6 weeks after initial testing. The results of the Lanthony test were expressed using the color confusion index of Bowman. The difference in Color Confusion Index (CCI) between the two administrations was calculated and used to determine the intraclass correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The overall mean CCI for the two administrations for these subjects was 1.11 +/- 0.136. The mean difference in CCI score between test administrations was -0.02 +/- 0.128. There was a strong correlation between the absolute value of the difference in CCI and the mean CCI for each subject (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the Lanthony Desaturated D-15 test can be used to assess fine color discrimination, there is considerable within-subject variability in test results. The intraclass correlation coefficient is less than that recommended for use in clinical testing or research. Clinicians should consider at least three administrations of the test at each sitting to ensure precision and we recommend taking the mean of those three tests.