Wavelength effects on critical flicker frequency in human infants.

We examined 3-mo.-old human infants' ability to detect flicker in 454-nm blue and 627-nm red lights at 1.5 log cd/m2. Infants showed the same critical flicker frequency (CFF) to both wavelengths, suggesting that retinal cones mediate the detection of flicker at this luminance level. Infants' CFFs for chromatic stimuli were much lower than those reported for achromatic stimuli and also much lower than adults' CFFs tested under the same conditions.