General Principles of Perception: Johannes Müller's Law

Study Notes

Visual Receptors and Their Functions

Rods are abundant in the periphery of the human retina, enabling better vision in low-light conditions.
Cones are more useful under bright lighting conditions, responsible for color vision and visual acuity.

Photopigments and Color Perception

Photopigments in the retina absorb light and initiate the phototransduction cascade, converting light into electrical signals for the brain.
According to the Trichromatic Theory, human eyes can perceive three primary colors: red, green, and blue, which combine to form a wide spectrum of colors.

Color Vision and Adaptations

Color constancy refers to the brain's ability to perceive colors consistently under varying lighting conditions despite changes in illumination.
Color vision deficiency is commonly known as color blindness, affecting the ability to distinguish colors accurately.

Visual Processing and Acuity

The fovea, located in the retina, is responsible for acute, detailed vision due to a high concentration of cones.
The blind spot in the eye is caused by the absence of photoreceptors where the optic nerve exits the retina.

Cellular Function in the Retina

Ganglion cells within the retina enable responses to specific visual features such as contrast and movement.
Bipolar cells serve as intermediaries, transmitting signals from photoreceptors (rods and cones) to ganglion cells.

Causal Pathways in Vision

The optic nerve (second cranial nerve) transmits visual information from the retina to the brain for processing.
The brain encodes information related to different sensations through specific neural pathways, allowing distinct perception of various stimuli.

Description

Test your knowledge on the general principles of perception, focusing on Johannes Müller's "Law of Specific Nerve Energies" and how the brain codes information through active neurons. Explore the eye's connections to the brain, including the functions of bipolar cells, pupils, retina, lens, cornea, and the optic nerve.