L10_Low_Level_Sensory_Perception_Annotated

Photoreceptors

Specialized receptors of the visual system that encode light (photons) as electrochemical signals.

Rods

Photoreceptors that respond best to low-light environments and provide low resolution, non-color vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors that respond best to high-light environments, providing high resolution and color vision.

Retinotopic map

A spatial representation of visual information in the retina, where each point corresponds to a specific location in the visual field.

Bipolar cells

Intermediate neurons that connect photoreceptors to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina.

Optic nerve

The nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

Part of the thalamus that receives visual information from the optic tract and sends it to the primary visual cortex.

Visual fields

The areas of vision processed by the eyes; divided into left and right visual fields.

Population coding

A mechanism where multiple photoreceptors work together to encode complex visual information.

Color blindness

A vision deficiency where one or more cone types do not function properly, affecting color perception.

Primary visual cortex (V1)

The region of the cortex responsible for the initial processing of visual information in the occipital lobe.

G proteins

Proteins activated by photons that interact with ion channels in photoreceptors to change membrane potential.

Axon

A long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body to the next neuron.

Electrochemical signals

Changes in membrane potential in the neurons that encode sensory information.

Afferent pathway

The neural pathway that transmits sensory information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Contrast sensitivity

The ability to detect differences between light and dark areas in a visual field.

Sine wave

A mathematical curve that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation, which can represent the behavior of photons.

Nasal retina

The part of the retina closest to the nose that processes visual information from the temporal field.

Temporal retina

The part of the retina closest to the temples that processes visual information from the nasal field.

Visual processing

The interpretation of visual information received by the eyes, including shape, color, and motion.

Neural connections

The pathways formed by neurons that allow communication between different parts of the nervous system.