Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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...
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.
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,...
Focusing of Light in the Eye01:16

Focusing of Light in the Eye

Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
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...
Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Molecular Engineering Strategy to Fine-Tune Phototoxicity of AIE Probes for Super-Resolution Imaging of Mitochondrial Cristae Dynamics.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Evolutionarily conserved and divergent mechanisms of dual Ca<sup>2+</sup> sensors in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

MW-FlexNIRS: wearable, low-cost, LED-based, multi-wavelength NIRS oximeter for cytochrome c oxidase recovery in neonates.

Biomedical optics express·2026
Same author

Comparative validation of speckle contrast optical spectroscopy against diffuse correlation spectroscopy for monitoring human cerebral blood flow.

Neurophotonics·2026
Same author

Highly parallel, 1060 nm interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy with a time-of-flight filter.

Biomedical optics express·2026
Same author

Adaptive optical correction for in vivo two-photon fluorescence microscopy with neural fields.

Nature methods·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats
07:08

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats

Published on: January 10, 2019

Optics and the Brain: introduction to the feature issue.

Vicente J Parot1, Qinrong Zhang2, Wesley B Baker3

  • 1Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820244, Chile.

Biomedical Optics Express
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary

This feature issue explores how optical technologies address key neuroscience questions and clinical needs. Researchers showcase innovative optical methods for brain research and applications.

More Related Videos

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
07:11

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

Quantification of Visual Feature Selectivity of the Optokinetic Reflex in Mice
09:28

Quantification of Visual Feature Selectivity of the Optokinetic Reflex in Mice

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats
07:08

Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Optokinetic Response As Structural and Functional Visual System Readouts in Mice and Rats

Published on: January 10, 2019

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
07:11

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

Published on: December 8, 2023

Quantification of Visual Feature Selectivity of the Optokinetic Reflex in Mice
09:28

Quantification of Visual Feature Selectivity of the Optokinetic Reflex in Mice

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomedical Optics
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • The intersection of optics and neuroscience is crucial for understanding brain function.
  • There is a growing need for advanced imaging and therapeutic techniques in neuroscientific research.
  • Optical methods offer unique advantages for non-invasive brain exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a collection of research articles focused on "Optics and the Brain."
  • To highlight the diverse neuroscientific questions and clinical needs addressed by optical methodologies.
  • To showcase novel optical techniques developed by the research community.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current research in biomedical optics applied to neuroscience.
  • Showcasing innovative optical instrumentation and techniques.
  • Focus on methodologies for brain imaging, manipulation, and analysis.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in optical neuroscience.
  • Demonstration of the versatility of optical tools in tackling complex brain problems.
  • Identification of emerging trends and future directions in the field.

Conclusions:

  • Optical technologies are pivotal in advancing our understanding of the brain.
  • The featured research underscores the potential of optics to address critical clinical needs in neurology.
  • Continued innovation in optical methods promises significant breakthroughs in neuroscience.