6.1 Visual Coding and the Retinal Receptors

Question 1

Transduction

Answer 1

The conversion of that physical energy to an electrochemical pattern in the neurons

Question 2

Coding

Answer 2

The one-to-one correspondence between some aspects of the physical stimulus and some aspect of the nervous system activity

Question 3

Receptor potential

Answer 3

A local depolarization or hyperpolarization of a receptor membrane

Question 4

Law of specific nerve energies

Answer 4

Described by Johannes Müller 1838; whatever excited established a special kind of energy that nerve; any activity by particular always conveys the same kind of information to the brain

Question 5

Macula

Answer 5

The portion of your retina with the greatest ability to resolve detail; at the center of the retina; includes the fovea

Question 6

Photopigments

Answer 6

Chemicals that release energy when struck by light

Question 7

Trichromatic theory

Answer 7

Also known as Young-Helmholtz theory; we perceive color through the relative rates of response by three kinds of cones, each kind maximally sensitive to different set of wavelengths

Question 8

Opponent-process theory

Answer 8

We perceive color in terms of paired opposite: red versus green, yellow versus blue, and white versus black; Employed by bipolar cells that become excitatory or inhibitory

Question 9

Color constancy

Answer 9

The ability to recognize the color of an object despite changes in light; Requires a comparison

Question 10

Reception

Answer 10

The absorption of physical energy by the receptors