Vision Science and Retinal Cells

These flashcards cover key concepts related to retinal structure and function, focusing on various cell types, processes, and visual perception mechanisms.

Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs)

The final output neurons of the vertebrate retina that transmit visual information to the brain.

Amacrine Cells

Neurons in the retina that integrate and modulate signals from bipolar cells and influence ganglion cell responses.

Horizontal Cells

Retinal neurons that provide inhibitory feedback to photoreceptors and bipolar cells, facilitating lateral inhibition.

Bipolar Cells

Interneurons in the retina that connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells and transmit visual signals.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the retina, including rods and cones, that detect light and convert it into neural signals.

Phototransduction

The process by which photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals.

Color Blindness

A deficiency in perceiving colors, often due to mutations in the photoreceptor cells.

Fovea

The central pit of the retina where visual acuity is highest due to a high density of cones.

Receptive Field of RGCs

The specific area of the visual field that affects the firing rate of a retinal ganglion cell.

On-center Off-surround

A type of ganglion cell receptive field that is activated by light in the center and inhibited by light in the surrounding area.

Off-center On-surround

A type of ganglion cell receptive field that is inhibited by light in the center and activated by light in the surrounding area.

Lateral Inhibition

A process in the retina where stimulated neurons inhibit the activity of their neighbors, enhancing edge detection.

Edge Detection

A visual processing technique that identifies the boundaries of objects by detecting changes in light intensity.

RGC response

The pattern of activity in retinal ganglion cells in response to visual stimuli.

Retinal Ganglion Cell On Bipolar Cell

A type of bipolar cell that depolarizes in response to light and connects to On-type RGCs.

Off Bipolar Cell

A type of bipolar cell that hyperpolarizes in response to light and connects to Off-type RGCs.