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Related Concept Videos

Vision01:24

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.
The Retina01:32

The Retina

The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.
Anatomy of the Eyeball01:20

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 Pathways01:22

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...
Visual System01:26

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Whole-mount Retinal Organoid Visualization with Cellular Resolution
09:20

Whole-mount Retinal Organoid Visualization with Cellular Resolution

Published on: June 20, 2025

Retinal waves coordinate patterned activity throughout the developing visual system.

James B Ackman1, Timothy J Burbridge, Michael C Crair

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.

Nature
|October 13, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spontaneous retinal waves, driven by cholinergic neurotransmission, propagate through the neonatal mouse visual system before eye opening. This patterned activity guides the development of visual circuits prior to vision onset.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Visual System Development

Background:

  • Nervous system development relies on genetic factors and neuronal activity.
  • Activity-dependent development precedes sensory experience, implying a role for spontaneous activity.
  • The origin and characteristics of prenatal in vivo neural activity remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and properties of spontaneous neural activity in the developing visual system before eye opening.
  • To determine the origin, propagation patterns, and neurotransmitter dependence of this early activity.
  • To assess the influence of this activity on downstream visual processing areas.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized optical imaging techniques in live neonatal mice.
  • Observed spontaneous activity patterns in the retina and throughout the visual pathway.
  • Investigated the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in activity generation.

Main Results:

  • Documented waves of spontaneous retinal activity propagating across the entire visual system before eye opening.
  • Identified preferential initiation in the binocular retina with spatiotemporal correlations between hemispheres.
  • Found retinal waves to be the primary driver of activity in the midbrain and primary visual cortex.

Conclusions:

  • Spontaneous retinal activity is a key prenatal driver of visual system development.
  • This patterned activity carries information essential for structuring intra- and inter-hemispheric circuits.
  • Cholinergic signaling is crucial for generating these developmental signals before vision.