We examine how the RG cardinal mechanism adapts to a shift from one spatial
ly uniform field to another. A probe-flash paradigm allowed the response to
be estimated at an initial adaptation state, an end adaptation state, and
four intermediate time conditions. The threshold curves were higher and fla
tter in the intermediate conditions than at the beginning and end of adapta
tion. The intermediate results cannot be explained by combinations of cone
or opponent-level multiplicative and subtractive gain controls, and implica
te higher-order adaptation processes. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col
Res Appl, 26, S43-S47, 2001.