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J A McArthur

Publications and source records attributed to J A McArthur.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

A two-dimensional model of brightness perception based on spatial filtering consistent with retinal processing.

We have applied a multiple scale, 2-D model of brightness perception to a broad range of brightness phenomena. The filters encapsulate only processing that is well established to occur in retinal ganglion cells. Their outputs are then combined in the simplest way compatible with the earliest levels of cortical processing. Not only essential features of a number of the phenomena but also more subtle shading effects are reproduced. Because of the retinal nature of this model, these results would appear to support previous speculation that much of the ground work for brightness perception is performed at the retinal level.

Computational Biology↗

Effect of red light on geotropism in pea epicotyls.

Dose response curves were determined for phytochrome phototransformation and for a phytochrome-controlled decrease in geotropic curvature in epicotyls of dark-grown Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska. Ten times as much light was required to produce a spectrophotometrically detectable transformation of phytochrome as was required to produce a significant change in the geotropic response. The red light energy required for a 50% phytochrome transformation caused a 90% change in the physiological response.

Journal Article↗

In vivo phytochrome reversion in immature tissue of the alaska pea seedling.

Reversion of far red-absorbing phytochrome to red-absorbing phytochrome without phytochrome destruction (that is, without loss of absorbancy and photoreversibility) occurs in the following tissues of etiolated Alaska pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L.): young radicles (24 hours after start of imbibition), young epicotyls (48 hours after start of imbibition), and the juvenile region of the epicotyl immediately subjacent to the plumule in older epicotyls. Reversion occurs rapidly in the dark during the first 30 minutes following initial phototransformation of red-absorbing phytochrome to far red-absorbing phytochrome. If these tissues are illuminated continuously with red light for 30 minutes, the total amount of phytochrome remains unchanged. Beyond 30 minutes after a single phototransformation or after the start of continuous red irradiation, phytochrome destruction commences. In young radicles, sodium azide inhibits this destruction, but does not affect reversion. In older tissues in which far red-absorbing phytochrome destruction begins immediately upon phototransformation, strong evidence for simultaneous far red-absorbing phytochrome reversion is obtained from comparison of far red-absorbing phytochrome loss in the dark following a single phototransformation with far red-absorbing phytochrome loss under continuous red light.

Journal Article↗