Contributions to the history of psychology: LVI. J.E. Purkinje (1787-1869), "the phenomenon" and beyond.

Light-adaptation and dark-adaptation are complementary (not "identical") processes. Both came to be covered by the term "Purkinje phenomenon." While the phenomenology remains unaffected by the advances of science, our understanding of the histological details and the molecular events has increased dramatically. At the same time we are still in the dark as to who coined the term "Purkinje phenomenon" and what relevant observations preceded Purkinje's report of 1825. A comprehensive account of Purkinje's involvement in psychology and its significance is lacking.