Parts of the Eye (AP Psych)

cornea

the clear, outer layer of the eye that focuses incoming light

lens

a clear structure behind the pupil that bends/accommodates light onto the retina

iris

colored part of the eye made of muscles that changes the size of the pupil to regulate light energy

retina

back surface of the eye where light turns to signals that help us see (rods and cones)

optic nerve

nerve that takes the visual signal to the brain to process images

pupil

the black center of the eye that contracts or expands to control the amount of light that enters

rods

cells that can detect very dim light

cones

cells that detect colors in bright light

nearsightedness

you can see near, but not far

farsightedness

you can see far, but not near

fovia

a small area in the center of the retina where vision is best

opponent-process theory

certain cells in the brain are stimulated or inhibited by specific colors, leading to afterimages

trichromatic theory

idea that color vision is based on our sensitivity to three primary colors (red, green, blue)

dichromatism

a type of color blindness where only two of the three primary cones/colors work

monochromatism

a type of color blindness where only one cone/color works