Vision and Light Processing

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to vision and the structure and function of the eye as discussed in the lecture.

Accessory Eye Structures

Structures that support the primary function of the eye, including the cornea, lens, and extraocular muscles.

Rods

Photoreceptors in the retina that are highly sensitive to light and allow for vision in low light conditions, but do not detect color.

Cones

Photoreceptors that function in bright light and enable color vision; they are responsible for high visual acuity.

Cataracts

A condition characterized by clouding of the lens, leading to decreased vision.

Glaucoma

An eye condition that can cause blindness due to damage to the optic nerve, often associated with increased intraocular pressure.

Astigmatism

A common vision condition caused by an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, leading to blurred vision.

Myopia

Also known as nearsightedness, a condition where close objects are seen clearly but distant objects are blurred.

Hyperopia

Also known as farsightedness, a condition where distant objects can be seen more clearly than close objects.

Phototransduction

The process by which light energy is converted into electrical signals in the photoreceptors.

Retina

The innermost layer of the eye that contains photoreceptors (rods and cones) and converts light into neural signals.

Photopigments

Molecules in photoreceptors that change shape upon absorbing light, initiating phototransduction.

Graded Potentials

Temporary changes in membrane potential that can lead to action potentials if the threshold is reached.

Action Potentials

Rapidly occurring electrical signals along the axon of a neuron that transmit information.

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

A thalamic relay center that processes visual information before it reaches the primary visual cortex.

Ventral Stream

A visual processing pathway that helps with object recognition and memory.

Dorsal Stream

A visual processing pathway that assists with spatial awareness and movement.

Depth Perception

The brain's ability to perceive distance and three-dimensional structure from visual inputs.

Visual Cortex

The area of the brain responsible for processing visual information, located in the occipital lobe.