PSYC 2390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Ciliary Muscle, Lateral Geniculate Nucleus, Macular Degeneration

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2390
• Professor: Lana Trick

Document Summary

First four steps in visual perception: distal stimulus, light reflected and image focused onto retina, receptors transform light electricity, signals travel through network of neurons. Light: band of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic spectrum: a continuum of electromagnetic energy that is produced by electric charges and radiated as energy. Wavelength: distance between peaks of electromagnetic waves (range from short: 10-12 to long: 104 meters) Visual light: energy within electromagnetic spectrum that humans can perceive (400- Primitive animals (like flatworms) had eyespots and could detect light from dark, but not individual features of environment. Light enters through the pupil, focused by the cornea onto the lens. Lens forms sharp image on retina: the network of neurons on back of eye with receptors for vision. Rods (light and dark vision) and cones (colour vision) are named for the shape of their outer segments: part of receptor that contains visual pigment (light- sensitive chemicals)