Parallel increase of heterochromatic increment threshold and postadaptation thresholds in Parkinson's disease and in neuroleptic treatment

Following reports on a predominant loss of blue/yellow contrast sensitivity in Parkinson's disease, we revisited the physiological phenomenon of transient tritanopia. Normative data were collected from 33 healthy individuals using different colour and time combinations. Stimuli of 440 nm wavelength (blue) proved optimal, if flashed for 50 msec within the early phase of a 2 sec pause in the 600 nm adaptation light. These conditions were then applied to 15 patients with Parkinson's disease. We found a parallel increase of increment threshold (P < 0.001) and postadaptation thresholds (P < 0.01), with little change in the extent of transient tritanopia. The same tendency at a lower significance level was found in 15 psychiatric patients under chronic treatment with depot neuroleptics.