Week 4 Flashcards
how many photoreceptors
125 million
how many retinal ganglion cells
1.5 million
how do photoreceptors work
Signal presence of light by generating electrical currents proportional to the amount of light absorbed by photopigment
How do other neural elements in retina help to condense image information while retaining important features e.g. presence of edges, color, motion?
Highlighting differences in light and dark
By summarising key information into digestible chunks for further processing
how do retinal ganglion cells work
Almost all do not absorb light but receive input from other retinal cells
Their output is in form of generating action potentials carried to the brain
Undergo single cell recording process
- There is a baseline level or spontaneous activity without any visual stimulus
- Then move a small spot around the screen to find region of stimulated retina where there is a spot that causes an increase in number of action potentials (ON)
- Turn light off, response rate returns to spontaneous activity level
4.Move position of stimulus to neighboring area of the retina
5.Turn light on, notice decrease in firing rate - In same position, tun light off, see an increase in spontaneous activity (OFF)
- Map out on and off regions for the neuron
what is the receptive field
The region of the visual field in which presentation of a stimulus evokes responses (change in firing rate) from a given sensory neuron
Size of RF determines size of the most effective stimulus
Orientation of RG does not show anything
what is lateral inhibition
Modulation of central signal by surround response, due to interaction between antagonistic regions of receptive field
What does it mean when a cell is called ‘linear’?
Cell’s response is determined by adding responses from excitatory and inhibitory influences within a cells receptive field
Spontaneous discharge = equal stimulation of excitatory and inhibitory regions
role of bipolar neuron
All photoreceptors hyperpolarise when photons are absorbed leading to decrease in neurotransmitter release
what are 2 different responses to decrease in neurotransmitter
on center BP cells
off center BP cells
how does light affect on center BP cells
Light on - increase in neurotransmitter (Glutamate)
Light off – decrease in neurotransmitter (Glutamate)
how does light affect off center BP cells
Light on – decrease in neurotransmitter (Glutamate)
Light off – increase in neurotransmitter (Glutamate)
What do horizontal cells do
Every photoreceptor has HC and BP
They spread over wide retinal areas
Provide information almost everywhere / sporadic
Gather info from cones and influence signals of BP cells by adding opponent surrounding signal to their receptive fields
Lateral inhibition
What are Amacrine cells
Outnumber both HC and GC
Influence the temporal responses of ganglion cells e.g. how vigorously they respond
Enhance responses to RF surround in primate
Convey rod signals to cone bipolars so they have a role in scotopic vision (low light)