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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...

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,...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 20, 2025

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

Neuromodulatory Control of Early Visual Processing in Macaque.

Anita A Disney¹

¹Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA;

Annual Review of Vision Science

|September 15, 2021

Summary

Five key neuromodulators control visual processing by altering neural responses in the early visual pathway. Understanding their combined effects across brain areas is crucial for a complete picture.

Keywords:

cholinergic dopaminergic histaminergic noradrenergic norepinephrine serotonergic

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Last Updated: Oct 20, 2025

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

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Published on: August 1, 2018

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A Pressure Injection System for Investigating the Neuropharmacology of Information Processing in Awake Behaving Macaque Monkey Cortex

A Pressure Injection System for Investigating the Neuropharmacology of Information Processing in Awake Behaving Macaque Monkey Cortex

Published on: March 14, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Visual Processing
Neuromodulation

Background:

Visual processing relies on dynamic control by neuromodulatory molecules.
These molecules alter neuronal responsiveness and synaptic strength in early visual pathways.
Modulation in the lateral geniculate nucleus, V1, and V2 impacts perception, decision-making, and memory.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the roles of five small-molecule neuromodulators in the macaque monkey's early visual pathway.
To examine the structural basis and release effects of acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and histamine.
To advocate for studying the joint actions and differential effects of neuromodulators across brain areas.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on neuromodulators in the early visual pathway.
Analysis of the structural basis and functional effects of key neuromodulators.
Comparative examination of neuromodulatory actions in different visual brain regions.

Main Results:

Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and histamine significantly influence visual processing.
These neuromodulators exert their effects through structural mechanisms and release dynamics.
Modulatory effects vary across different areas of the early visual pathway.

Conclusions:

Understanding the interplay of multiple neuromodulators offers deeper insights into visual processing.
Considering the differential effects across brain regions is essential for a comprehensive view.
This approach enhances our understanding of how visual information is processed, perceived, and remembered.