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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.

Visual System

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...

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...

The Retina

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.

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

Wide-field feedback neurons dynamically tune early visual processing.

John C Tuthill¹, Aljoscha Nern¹, Gerald M Rubin¹

¹HHMI/Janelia Farm Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.

|May 24, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Behavioral state dynamically adjusts fly vision. Wide-field neurons in the fly

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Last Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

Simultaneous Eye Tracking and Single-Neuron Recordings in Human Epilepsy Patients

Simultaneous Eye Tracking and Single-Neuron Recordings in Human Epilepsy Patients

Published on: June 17, 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

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory processing
Animal behavior

Background:

Efficient neural coding requires matching cellular responses to input signals.
Sensory signal relevance is modulated by behavioral state.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate how behavior modifies neural activity in early fly vision.
Identify neural mechanisms underlying behavioral state-dependent sensory processing.

Main Methods:

In vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology in Drosophila.
Recordings from lamina wide-field neurons in flying flies.
Genetic manipulation to silence wide-field neurons.

Main Results:

Lamina wide-field neurons respond to low-frequency luminance changes.
Neural gain and frequency tuning of these neurons change during flight.
Octopamine mimics flight-induced changes in wide-field neurons.
Silencing wide-field neurons enhances behavioral responses to slow stimuli.

Conclusions:

Wide-field neurons act as a behaviorally gated filter in the fly visual system.
These neurons subtract low-frequency signals, enhancing motion detection circuits.
Behavioral state dynamically optimizes sensory information processing.