Errors of judgement at Greenwich in 1796
Article Abstract:
The beginnings of experimental psychology date back to the winter of 1796 when Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne fired his assistant for making seemingly inaccurate estimates of stellar transits, or the moment when a star passed the meridian wire in the Greenwich telescope. Following the incident, Bessel at Konigsberg examined differences between himself and other veteran observers and used the 'personal equation' concept to correct for the constant errors of some observers. He concluded that perceptual and cognitive processes took a quantifiable time. The introduction of personal equation to astronomy prompted studies of reaction times and order judgments which were undertaken in the first laboratory of experimental psychology.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
What do colour-blind people see?
Article Abstract:
An algorithmic simulation using computer-controlled color displays can give normal trichromatic vision people an idea of what a dichromatic, or color-blind, person may see. The simulation is limited by the polymorphic nature of color sensing but can be used by people preparing display screens or color-coding systems as a starting point to evaluate colors used. The simulation begins with a trichromatic vision and reduces photopigments to simulate reduced color gamut. Photographs of the different visions are included.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Adaptation of colour vision to sunlight
Article Abstract:
The process of color vision adaptation to sunlight is slower compared to the light and dark adaptation as described in this experiment which measured Rayleigh matches before and after sunlight exposure using the Nagel anomaloscope. Computer-controlled colorimeter was employed in obtaining the data. Results have shown that Rayleigh matches were shifted in the protan direction after exposure which indicates a normal mechanism of adaptation.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Genome of the marsupial Monodelphis domestica reveals innovation in non-coding sequencing. To be or not to be a lichen
- Abstracts: Drink the best and drive the rest. Wing farms' deadly reputation hard to shift
- Abstracts: Response of elk to changes in plant production and nutrition following prescribed burning. Edge effects of gated and ungated roads on terrestrial salamanders
- Abstracts: Prospects for detection of extra-solar giant planets by next-generation telescopes. Walking on other planets
- Abstracts: Labour party pledges to end privatization of UK laboratories. UK Labour Party seeks votes through pro-science image