Does flat mean slow? LCD monitors and their temporal precision for visual experiments

Up to now, the vast majority of psychophysical experiments requiring a high precision of visual stimuli are performed on cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors. These devices have been standard computer monitors for decades, and their temporal characteristics are well known. However, the production of most CRT monitors lines has been discontinued owing to the wide adoption of flat liquid-crystal-display (LCD) panels for most applications. On the other hand, many experimenters still avoid using LCD monitors as their display characteristics have not yet been assessed for psychophysical purposes. This work, based on systematic measurements of different LCD panels, assesses the usability of LCD monitors in vision research with regard to their temporal precision. We compared the signals of CRT monitors with those of current LCD technologies. While timing precision and controllability of LCD monitors still lags behind those of CRT devices, technologies such as amp;amp;lsquo;Overdriveamp ;amp;amp ;lsquo; allow pe rforming visual experiments with tolerably high precision if certain conditions are taken into account. Advise is given on selecting the best-matching technology