Exam 2: The Beginnings of Perception

The "rod-cone break" in the dark adaptation curve occurs after about ___ in the dark.

The distance at which the lens can no longer bring a close object into focus is called the

The isomerization of a single pigment molecule triggers what is best described as a

Acuity develops to almost 20/20 vision by the time the infant is

The visual pigment molecules are contained in the

Our perception of the environment depends on

The episode of "Mythbusters" cited in the textbook demonstrated that dark adaptation was the reason why

Converging circuits with excitation and inhibition are associated most closely with which step of the perceptual process?

Rushton demonstrated that the physiological mechanism behind dark adaptation is

__________ is necessary for the neural transmission and processing of information.

At the beginning of the action potential, _____ ions flow from outside the nerve fiber into the nerve fiber.

Rods and cones synapse with ______ cells, which then synapse with ____ cells.

Light can be described in terms of wavelength, or as consisting of small packets of energy called

There are ____different cone receptors, each with different absorption spectra.

(a) Discuss the major differences between the rods and the cones. (b) Describe two retinal disorders that differentially affect the rods and the cones.

The _____ analogy is used to describe the relationship of neurotransmitters with receptor sites.

The Purkinje shift

(a) In words and/or diagrams, discuss why convergence of the rods results in increased sensitivity, but decreased acuity. (b) In words and/or diagrams, discuss why the lack of convergence in the foveal cones results in decreased sensitivity, but increased acuity.

Acuity is better in the ____ than in the _____.

_______ reacts to light to start the process of transduction.