Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

Color Vision

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.

Anatomy of the Eyeball

Anatomy of the Eyeball

The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...

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...

Introduction to Special Senses

Introduction to Special Senses

Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.

Group Polarization

Group Polarization

Group polarization is the strengthening of an original group attitude following the discussion of views within a group (Teger & Pruitt, 1967). That is, if a group initially favors a viewpoint, after discussion the group consensus is likely a stronger endorsement of the viewpoint. Conversely, if the group was initially opposed to a viewpoint, group discussion would likely lead to stronger opposition.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Missed isochromatic cardiac pulsation in remote photoplethysmography: detection, impact, and removal.

Biomedical optics express·2026

Same author

Paper-Based Colorimetric pH Test Strip Using Bio-Derived Dyes.

Biosensors·2025

Same author

The effect of oxidative stress on the leading edge of the a-wave in retinitis pigmentosa.

Journal of theoretical biology·2025

Same author

Editorial on the Special Issue: "Advances in Retinal Image Processing".

Journal of imaging·2025

Same author

Biosensor for Bacterial Detection Through Color Change in Culture Medium.

Biosensors·2025

Same author

Fiber formation seen through the high-resolution computational microscope.

Faraday discussions·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Published on: February 26, 2016

The polarization sense in human vision.

Albert Le Floch¹, Guy Ropars, Jay Enoch

¹Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes cedex, France; Université européenne de Bretagne, 5 boulevard Laënnec, 35000 Rennes, France.

Vision Research

|July 20, 2010

Summary

Human eyes detect polarized light due to the unique geometry of blue cones in the fovea, creating visible entoptic phenomena. This polarization sensitivity, previously unexplained, is now modeled and experimentally confirmed.

More Related Videos

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser

Published on: June 28, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Published on: February 26, 2016

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser

Published on: June 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Vision Science
Biophysics
Optics

Background:

Animals exhibit differential sensitivity to polarized light orientation.
The Haidinger's brushes phenomenon, observed since 1844, involves blue-yellow brushes seen when viewing the sky through a polarizer.
Existing models fail to fully explain the mechanism behind human polarization sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose and validate a novel mechanism for human polarization sensitivity.
To explain the formation of Haidinger's brushes based on optical principles and retinal geometry.
To investigate the dynamic properties and inter-eye differences in polarization perception.

Main Methods:

Applied Fresnel's laws to oblique rays interacting with the cylindrical geometry of foveal blue cones.
Constructed an artificial eye model to simulate and photograph entoptic phenomena.
Conducted in vivo and in vitro tests using stationary and dynamic stimuli.

Main Results:

The proposed model, incorporating cylindrical blue cone geometry and Fresnel's laws, explains extrinsic dichroism and polarization sensitivity.
Artificial eye models and simulations successfully reproduced entoptic blue-dark brushes.
Dynamic stimuli revealed a rapid creation and erasing time (approx. 0.1s) for the entoptic image, in addition to a 3s fading time.
A more regular and symmetrical polarization pattern was observed in the dominant eye.

Conclusions:

The cylindrical geometry and distribution of foveal blue cones induce extrinsic dichroism, explaining human sensitivity to polarized light.
The study validates a biophysical model for Haidinger's brushes and polarization vision.
Polarization sense may offer unexplored information, with potential applications in various fields.