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Vision

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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.

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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

Published on: May 27, 2009

Visual pathways and psychophysical channels in the primate.

¹SUNY Optometry, 33 W. 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA. blee@sunyopt.edu

The Journal of Physiology

|August 21, 2010

Summary

Understanding retinal cell systems and their link to the striate cortex is key. While simple stimuli allow clear psychophysical channel identification, complex stimuli and cortical mechanisms complicate this relationship.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Visual System Research
Retinal Physiology

Background:

The primary retinal cell systems feeding the striate cortex are largely understood.
Specific anatomical and physiological details of these systems remain debated.
Psychophysical performance under simple stimuli can often be attributed to distinct retinal systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between retinal afferent pathways and psychophysical channels.
To explore the challenges in separating retinal contributions from cortical processing, especially with complex stimuli.

Main Methods:

Analysis of psychophysical performance under varying stimulus conditions.
Correlation of psychophysical data with known retinal cell system properties.

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

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Published on: May 27, 2009

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

Examination of the distinction between afferent pathway activity and cortical mechanisms.

Main Results:

Under simple stimulus conditions, psychophysical channels align well with specific retinal systems.
Complex stimulus conditions make it difficult to directly link performance to 'front end' retinal channels.
Separating the influence of retinal afferent pathways from cortical mechanisms (dorsal/ventral streams) is challenging.

Conclusions:

While simple stimuli allow for clear mapping of retinal systems to psychophysical channels, complex stimuli introduce ambiguity.
Cortical processing significantly influences perception, making it difficult to isolate the contribution of retinal pathways alone.
Further research is needed to fully disentangle the roles of afferent pathways and cortical mechanisms in visual perception.