PSYC 2050U Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Lateral Geniculate Nucleus, Visual Cortex, Visual Acuity
Document Summary
Light is bent or refracted by the transparent outer layer of the eye, the cornea, focusing on an image on the retina in the back of the eye. Vary the thickness of the lens to fine-tune the image. Retina contains two different types of photoreceptors to detect light forming the focused image: rods are sensitive, working even in very low light and they respond to light of any wavelength. Drive the scotopic system which works in dim light: three different types of cones responds better to some wavelengths of light than others, allowing us to detect colours. Information for photopic system, needs light to function. Photoreceptors stimulate bipolar cells which stimulate ganglion cells, project axons to the brain via the optic nerve. Ganglion cells of the retina synapse on the lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn) of the thalamus: sends neurons to primary visual cortex in occipital cortex.
