TL;DR: An experiment, where ten human subjects were presented flickering light at frequencies from 1 to 100 Hz in 1-Hz steps, and the event-related potentials exhibited steady-state oscillations at all frequencies up to at least 90 Hz, which could be a potential neural basis for gamma oscillations in binding experiments.
Abstract: The individual properties of visual objects, like form or color, are represented in different areas in our visual cortex. In order to perceive one coherent object, its features have to be bound together. This was found to be achieved in cat and monkey brains by temporal correlation of the firing rates of neurons which code the same object. This firing rate is predominantly observed in the gamma frequency range (approx. 30-80 Hz, mainly around 40 Hz). In addition, it has been shown in humans that stimuli which flicker at gamma frequencies are processed faster by our brains than when they flicker at different frequencies. These effects could be due to neural oscillators, which preferably oscillate at certain frequencies, so-called resonance frequencies. It is also known that neurons in visual cortex respond to flickering stimuli at the frequency of the flickering light. If neural oscillators exist with resonance frequencies, they should respond more strongly to stimulation with their resonance frequency. We performed an experiment, where ten human subjects were presented flickering light at frequencies from 1 to 100 Hz in 1-Hz steps. The event-related potentials exhibited steady-state oscillations at all frequencies up to at least 90 Hz. Interestingly, the steady-state potentials exhibited clear resonance phenomena around 10, 20, 40 and 80 Hz. This could be a potential neural basis for gamma oscillations in binding experiments. The pattern of results resembles that of multiunit activity and local field potentials in cat visual cortex.
TL;DR: In this paper, a unified flicker noise model which incorporates both the number fluctuation and the correlated surface mobility fluctuation mechanism is discussed, which can unify the noise data reported in the literature, without making any ad hoc assumption on the noise generation mechanism.
Abstract: A unified flicker noise model which incorporates both the number fluctuation and the correlated surface mobility fluctuation mechanism is discussed. The latter is attributed to the Coulombic scattering effect of the fluctuating oxide charge. The model has a functional form resembling that of the number fluctuation theory, but at certain bias conditions it may reduce to a form compatible with Hooge's empirical expression. The model can unify the noise data reported in the literature, without making any ad hoc assumption on the noise generation mechanism. Specifically, the model can predict the right magnitude and bias dependence of the empirical Hooge parameter. Simulated flicker noise characteristics obtained with a circuit-simulation-oriented flicker noise model based on the new formulation were compared with experimental noise data. Excellent agreement between the calculations and measurement was observed in both the linear and saturation regions for MOS transistors fabricated by different technologies. The work shows that the flicker noise in MOS transistors can be completely explained by the trap charge fluctuation mechanism, which produces mobile carrier number fluctuation and correlated surface mobility fluctuation. >
TL;DR: The sensitivity to temporally modulated sinusoidal gratings was determined and two thresholds could be distinguished: the contrast at which flicker could be perceived and the Contrast at which the spatial structure became distinct.
Abstract: 1. The sensitivity to temporally modulated sinusoidal gratings was determined. Two thresholds could be distinguished for the modulated gratings: the contrast at which flicker could be perceived and the contrast at which the spatial structure became distinct.2. The flicker detection thresholds and pattern recognition threshold varied independently as functions of the spatial and temporal frequencies, suggesting that the two thresholds represent the activity of two independent systems of channels.3. The channels detecting flicker prefer low and medium spatial frequencies. They have a pronounced decline in sensitivity at low temporal frequencies of sinusoidal modulation. They respond twice as well to gratings whose phase is alternated repetitively as to gratings turned on and off at the same rate.4. The channels responsible for the discrimination of spatial structure are most responsive at high and medium spatial frequencies. There is no decline in sensitivity at low temporal frequencies. These channels respond equally well to alternating and on/off gratings up to about 8 Hz.5. The temporal properties as revealed with sinusoidal modulation, suggest that the flicker-detecting channels would give transient responses to prolonged presentation of stimuli: the channels responsible for analysing the spatial structure would give sustained responses. The responses of the two types of channel to alternating and on/off gratings confirm this suggestion.
TL;DR: It is shown that the apparent duration of a dynamic stimulus can be manipulated in a local region of visual space by adapting to oscillatory motion or flicker, demonstrating a direct local effect on duration perception rather than an indirect effect on the time course of neural processing.
TL;DR: The IEEE Standards Working Group, IEEE PAR1789 as discussed by the authors has been formed to advise the lighting industry, ANSI/NEMA, IEC, EnergyStar and other standards groups about the emerging concern of flicker in LED lighting.
Abstract: The IEEE Standards Working Group, IEEE PAR1789 “Recommending practices for modulating current in High Brightness LEDs for mitigating health risks to viewers” has been formed to advise the lighting industry, ANSI/NEMA, IEC, EnergyStar and other standards groups about the emerging concern of flicker in LED lighting. This paper introduces power electronic designers for LED lighting to health concerns relating to flicker, demonstrates that existing technologies in LED lighting sometimes provide flicker at frequencies that may induce biological human response, and discusses a few methods to consider when trying to mitigate unintentional biological effects of LED lighting. The paper represents on-going work in IEEE PAR1789 that is vital to designing safe LED lamp drivers.