Relative roles of resolution and spatial interference in foveal and peripheral vision.

The rate of change of visual performance with increasing eccentricity of fixation is known to be task dependent. In order to examine eccentricity-related changes in visual performance when a combination of two different factors influence thresholds, visual acuity in the presence of flanking elements was investigated across the visual field. Interference zones increased in extent with eccentricity at a much faster rate than did resolution thresholds. E2 values, quantifying the eccentricity-related magnification required, were 1-2 degrees for resolution and 0.1-0.2 degrees for spatial interference. E2 values for resolution in the presence of flanks depended on the proximity of the flanks and their 'weighting' in the task. From the results, the magnitude and extent of spatial interference across the visual field can be described quantitatively. Further, the results serve as an example of how observed variations in peripheral threshold gradients might be achieved as a combination of underlying factors with different E2 values.