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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.

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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.
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The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
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Prosopagnosia

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Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Computational Modeling of Retinal Neurons for Visual Prosthesis Research - Fundamental Approaches

Computational Modeling of Retinal Neurons for Visual Prosthesis Research - Fundamental Approaches

Published on: June 21, 2022

Cortical Interactions between Prosthetic and Natural Vision.

Tamar Arens-Arad¹, Nairouz Farah¹, Rivkah Lender¹

¹Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Max ve-Anna Webb St, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Max ve-Anna Webb St, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.

Current Biology : CB

|December 30, 2019

Summary

Researchers studied how the brain combines artificial and natural vision in rats with retinal implants. They found similar visual processing, suggesting potential for restoring sight in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients.

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A Structured Rehabilitation Protocol for Improved Multifunctional Prosthetic Control: A Case Study

A Structured Rehabilitation Protocol for Improved Multifunctional Prosthetic Control: A Case Study

Published on: November 6, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Outer retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration cause incurable blindness.
Retinal prostheses can restore vision by stimulating remaining retinal neurons.
Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision, leaving peripheral vision intact, creating a unique scenario for combined prosthetic and natural vision.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate cortical interactions between prosthetic and natural vision.
To determine if the visual cortex processes combined visual stimuli similarly to natural stimuli.
To assess the potential for combined vision restoration in age-related macular degeneration patients.

Main Methods:

Utilized a rat model implanted with photovoltaic subretinal implants.
Recorded visually evoked potentials (VEPs) to analyze cortical responses.
Combined prosthetic and natural vision information within the visual cortex.

Main Results:

Observed striking similarities in the interactions of natural and prosthetic vision.
Demonstrated similar effects of background illumination on both vision types.
Showcased linear summation of non-patterned stimuli and lateral inhibition with spatial patterns, increasing with target contrast.

Conclusions:

The visual cortex processes combined natural and prosthetic vision similarly.
Findings support the feasibility of combining prosthetic and natural vision for sight restoration in age-related macular degeneration.
This research offers hope for improving vision restoration strategies for blindness caused by retinal diseases.