The Retina and How It Communicates With the Brain

Running head : The Retina and How It Communicates with the Brain The Retina and How It Communicates With the Brain

Biological Psychology 4034

Dr . Richard Elder

Louanne Bain

Insert Institution

Summer 2009

Abstract

The visual system of human beings is enables assimilation of visual perception from the environment . Visual perception refers to the ability to interpret light signals reaching the eyesight . Seeing is a complex activity and the visual system operates with very high precision to ensure constancy and to prevent the creation of blind spots in the

line of vision . Visual perception starts when light travels into the eye through the pupil . The organs and cells involved in visual perception exhibit a high level of functional specialization . Perceptual constancy and an extremely high level of organization within the visual system facilitate effective recognition of objects . The cornea with the aid of the eye lens focuses an image onto the cells of the retina . These cells are specially adapted to detect photons of light . The retina serves as a transducer which enables the conversion of the light signal into more complex neural signals . Processing of visual signals also takes place in the retina . Neural impulses are transmitted into the lateral geniculate nucleus and then to the primary and the secondary cortex of the brain which is able to interpret and convey the necessary signal

Structure of the Retina

The retina is a complex but highly organized structure used in visual perception . The retina in adult man has a diameter of...