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The Eye. Visual Function in Man, ed. 2, vol. 2A
VOL. 82, NO. 6
BOOK REVIEWS
The authors delineate a number of otic and neuro-otologic syndromes in which vertigo and nystagmus are prominent. Some of these include disturbances of neuro-ophthalmic interest but primarily this volume is valuable to neurootologists as well as to those individuals primarily concerned with disorders of equilibrium. MARCEL FRENKEL
949
current material. The Holden chapter that deals extensively with developmental is sues is probably the most comprehensive coverage of recent anatomical and electrophysiological data. Part 3 is concerned with color vision. This is the only section of the book for which the author (Marriott) agreed to re vise his original contributions. Marriott offers a competent textbook coverage of color vision. JOEL POKORNY
The Eye. Visual Function in Man, ed. 2, vol. 2A. Edited by Hugh Davson. New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1975. Clothbound, 616 pages, table of con tents, index, 45 black and white figures. $46.50 In the forward to the first edition (1962) of "The Eye. The Visual Processes," Hugh Davson stated that " . . . it is hoped that the book will be read more as an advanced text than consulted as a 'Hand book.'" For the past decade and a half, the first edition has served its purpose well and has been a fundamental text and reference book for visual scientists. In the present preface, Hugh Davson says, "It needs very little study of the present volume to appreciate that tremendous changes have been made, so that the au thors have written a new book rather than refurbishing the old." An up-to-date com prehensive coverage of material is given, much beyond the scope of a textbook. The first part, "On human vision," con tains six chapters on photoreceptor adap tation, temporal and spatial resolution, and after-images. H. Ripps and R. A. Weale wrote these chapters with penetrat ing intelligence and included much re cent material. Part 2 concerns neurophysiology, with Arden's chapters on the retina and Holden's chapter on central visual pathways. The discussion of retinal neurophysiolo gy is systematic, thorough, and contains
Vision and Acquisition. By Ian Overington. New York, Crane, Russak and Company, Inc., 1976. Clothbound, 375 pages, table of contents, index, bibliog raphy, 9 tables, 190 black and white figures. $32.50 In its broadest sense, this book is con cerned with many diverse disciplines, in cluding surface properties, atmospheric physics, photometry, instrumental and visual optics, physiology, neurology, and psychology. Because the subject covers such wide areas of interest, the data nec essary for a full appreciation of the prob lems of practical visual acquisition here tofore have been widely scattered. This new book brings together the pertinent data from each discipline in such a way that provides a gradually unfolding story of the overall problem. The early chapters are devoted to sur veys of the important properties of the eye, observer variability, the variation of threshold performance as a function of a wide range of factors, and image evalua tion techniques. Later chapters introduce the reader to the more complex factors effecting practical visual acquisition— local scene luminance, target structure and texture, atmospherics, and surface reflectance properties. The final chapters of the book look at field trials, field instru mentation, and visual stimulation. All
BOOK REVIEWS
The authors delineate a number of otic and neuro-otologic syndromes in which vertigo and nystagmus are prominent. Some of these include disturbances of neuro-ophthalmic interest but primarily this volume is valuable to neurootologists as well as to those individuals primarily concerned with disorders of equilibrium. MARCEL FRENKEL
949
current material. The Holden chapter that deals extensively with developmental is sues is probably the most comprehensive coverage of recent anatomical and electrophysiological data. Part 3 is concerned with color vision. This is the only section of the book for which the author (Marriott) agreed to re vise his original contributions. Marriott offers a competent textbook coverage of color vision. JOEL POKORNY
The Eye. Visual Function in Man, ed. 2, vol. 2A. Edited by Hugh Davson. New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1975. Clothbound, 616 pages, table of con tents, index, 45 black and white figures. $46.50 In the forward to the first edition (1962) of "The Eye. The Visual Processes," Hugh Davson stated that " . . . it is hoped that the book will be read more as an advanced text than consulted as a 'Hand book.'" For the past decade and a half, the first edition has served its purpose well and has been a fundamental text and reference book for visual scientists. In the present preface, Hugh Davson says, "It needs very little study of the present volume to appreciate that tremendous changes have been made, so that the au thors have written a new book rather than refurbishing the old." An up-to-date com prehensive coverage of material is given, much beyond the scope of a textbook. The first part, "On human vision," con tains six chapters on photoreceptor adap tation, temporal and spatial resolution, and after-images. H. Ripps and R. A. Weale wrote these chapters with penetrat ing intelligence and included much re cent material. Part 2 concerns neurophysiology, with Arden's chapters on the retina and Holden's chapter on central visual pathways. The discussion of retinal neurophysiolo gy is systematic, thorough, and contains
Vision and Acquisition. By Ian Overington. New York, Crane, Russak and Company, Inc., 1976. Clothbound, 375 pages, table of contents, index, bibliog raphy, 9 tables, 190 black and white figures. $32.50 In its broadest sense, this book is con cerned with many diverse disciplines, in cluding surface properties, atmospheric physics, photometry, instrumental and visual optics, physiology, neurology, and psychology. Because the subject covers such wide areas of interest, the data nec essary for a full appreciation of the prob lems of practical visual acquisition here tofore have been widely scattered. This new book brings together the pertinent data from each discipline in such a way that provides a gradually unfolding story of the overall problem. The early chapters are devoted to sur veys of the important properties of the eye, observer variability, the variation of threshold performance as a function of a wide range of factors, and image evalua tion techniques. Later chapters introduce the reader to the more complex factors effecting practical visual acquisition— local scene luminance, target structure and texture, atmospherics, and surface reflectance properties. The final chapters of the book look at field trials, field instru mentation, and visual stimulation. All