Unit 3 reading 2 ( Light energy and Eye structures)

Wavelength

distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

hue

dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of the light - colors

intensity

amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave - what we perceive as brightness or loudness

cornea

eye’s clear protective layer. covering pupil and iris

pupil

adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

iris

ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil - controls size of pupil opening

lens

transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

retina

light - sensitive back inner surface of the eye , containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of nerves that begin the processing of visual info

accommodation

1. in sensation and perception, the process where the eye lens changes shape to focus on images near or far

2. in developmental psychology, adapting our current chemas to incorporate new info

rods

retinal receptors that detect black, white and gray and are sensitive to movement - necessary to peripheral vision

cones

retinal receptors tha are concentrated near the center of the retina functions in day/ well lit conditions

• detect fine detal and give rise to color sensations

bipolar cells

receives signals from light sensitive photoreceptors and pass to ganglion cells

ganglion cells

axons of ganglion cells converge light to form optic nerve which carries visual signs to the brain

optic nerve

nerve that carries neural impulses from eye to brain

blind spot

point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye. creating a blind spot bc theres no receptor cells

photo receptors

specialized light sensory neurons located in the retina of the eye that converts light energy into neural signals through the process called phototransduction

optic chiasm

x-shaped structure located at the base of the brain where the optic nerves from each eye cross over eachother

young hemholtz trichromatic theory / three color theory

theory that says the retinal contains 3 types of photo receptors which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color

color deficient vision

gender - linked condition where a person lacks red or green or both sensitive cones - vision os monochromatic or dichromatic

after images

visual impressing that persists in a persons vision after the original stimulus has been removed

opponent color

colors opposite color on the color wheel

opponent process theory

states that emtional and senosry systems operate through opposing antagonistic pairs rather than independent channels. When one state or color is activated, its opposite is automatically suppressed

feature detectors

nerve cells in the brans visual cortex that respond the specific features of the stimulus such as shape, angle, movement

fusiform face area

area that helps recognize faces