The aim of this study was to measure visual contrast sensitivity, CS, for concentric circular sine-wave gratings with spatial frequencies of 0.25, 4 and 8 cpd, cycles per degree of visual angle, in adults without and with major depression disorder. We measured the visual CS for 20 participants, ten without and ten with major depression disorder medicated, using a temporal two-alternative forced-choice psychophysical method with mean luminance of 0.7 cd/m². All volunteers were free from identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. The results showed maximum contrast sensitivity to spatial frequency occurred in the range of 0.25 cpd for both groups. The results also showed that the visual CS for major depression was lower than those of adults without depression (p < 0.05). These results showed alterations in the visual perception related the major depression.
vision perception; contrast sensitivity; spatial frequency; psychophysical method
