How temporal cues can aid colour constancy

Colour constancy assessed by asymmetric simultaneous colour matching usuall y reveals limited levels of performance in the unadapted eye. Yet observed can readily discriminate illuminant changes on a scene front changes in the spectral reflectances of the surfaces making up the scene. This ability is probably based on judgments of relational colour constancy, in turn based on the physical stability of spatial ratios of cone excitations under illum inant changes. Evidence is presented suggesting that the ability to detect violations in relational colour constancy depends on, temporal transient cu es. Because colour constancy and relational colour constancy are closely co nnected, it should be possible to improve estimates of colour constancy by introducing similar transient cues into the matching task. To test this hyp othesis, an experiment was performed in which observers made surface-colour matches between patterns presented in the same position in an alternating sequence with period 2 s or as a control, presented simultaneously, side-by -side. The degree of constancy was significantly higher for sequential pres entation, reaching 87% for matches averaged over 20 observers, Temporal cue s may offer a useful source of information for making colour-constancy judg ments. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.