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Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the cochlea, a...

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.

Unrenewable Cells

Unrenewable Cells

In humans, the photoreceptor cells of the eye and sensory hair cells of the ear lack stem cells. These cells are thus unrenewable and cannot be replaced when they are damaged or destroyed.
Photoreceptors
The retina is composed of several layers and contains specialized cells called photoreceptors. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. There are two types of photoreceptors—rods and cones—which differ in the shape of their outer...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Development of an Audio-based Virtual Gaming Environment to Assist with Navigation Skills in the Blind

Development of an Audio-based Virtual Gaming Environment to Assist with Navigation Skills in the Blind

Published on: March 27, 2013

How vision matters for individuals with hearing loss.

Teresa V Mitchell¹, Melissa T Maslin

¹Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Waltham, MA 02452-6319, USA. Teresa.Mitchell@umassmed.edu

International Journal of Audiology

|September 11, 2007

Summary

Deafness impacts visual processing, enhancing skills like motion and face perception. These visual adaptations can improve auditory speech perception after cochlear implantation, highlighting cross-modal plasticity.

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory Processing
Auditory and Visual Systems

Background:

Hearing loss significantly affects communication and auditory function.
Deafness also influences the development of other sensory systems, notably vision.
Cross-modal plasticity describes how one sensory system's alteration impacts another.

Purpose of the Study:

To review research on how deafness affects visual functions and their neural underpinnings.
To explore the implications of cross-modal plasticity in cochlear implant recipients.
To examine how early visual speech perception skills benefit later auditory speech perception.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on deafness and visual processing.
Analysis of research on neural substrates of visual functions in deaf individuals.
Examination of studies involving cochlear implant recipients and perceptual learning.

Main Results:

Deafness alters the development of visual functions, including motion and face processing.
Attention to peripheral visual space is also affected by deafness.
Visual speech perception skills developed during deafness positively impact auditory speech perception post-implantation.

Conclusions:

Cross-modal plasticity between auditory and visual systems is evident in deafness.
Enhanced visual skills can compensate for auditory deficits.
Understanding these interactions informs rehabilitation strategies for hearing loss.