PSYC 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Ciliary Muscle, Lightdark
Document Summary
Ability to see stimulus depends on info contained in light that is reflected from object into eye. Electromagnetic spectrum- continuum of electromagnetic energy that id produced by electric charges and is radiated as waves. Wavelength- describes energy in spectrum, distance between peaks of electromagnetic waves. Visible light- energy in electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see, wavelengths 400-700 nm. Short waves lengths- blue, long wavelengths- yellow, orange and red. Light can also be described as photons- packets of light energy. 1)light reflected through pupil and focused by cornea and lens (optical system), which focus light on retina (network of neurons along back of eye) 2)retina contains visual receptors- rods (light/dark) and cones (color) which contain visual pigments that react to light and trigger electrical signals. 3)signals from receptors travel to optic nerve which sends info to brain. *2 transformations involved in visual process- 1) reflected light is transformed to image of object, 2) image of object transformed into electrical signals.
