photoreception
Detecting light biologically
Photoreception is the biological process of detecting light.
Specialized cells called photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals that the nervous system can interpret—enabling vision in animals and light-responsive behavior in plants and microorganisms.
The term appears in biology and neuroscience: photoreception in the human retina, bacterial photoreception.
Light-sensing tissue layer
- rodsThin cylindrical shafts
- conesTapering geometric solids
- photoreceptorsCells sensing light
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
chromophore · isomerization · bleaching · adaptation · cascade · ganglion · bipolar · horizontal
Visual perception faculty
- visual perceptionOcular sensory processing
- color visionPerceiving hue differences
- night visionAbility to see dimly
- scotopicRelating to dim-light vision
acuity · contrast · depth perception · motion detection · peripheral vision · fovea · macula · blind spot
Retina-brain neural connection
- visual cortexBrain's sight-processing region
- neurotransmissionNerve cell chemical communication
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- neuronImpulse-conducting cell
signal processing · brain · cortex · action potential · off-center
Circular marking resembling an iris
- ocellusSimple photoreceptive organ
- compound eyeMulti-lensed arthropod organ
- simple eyeSingle-chambered visual organ
- pineal glandMelatonin-secreting brain structure
circadian · phototropism · chloroplast · algae · bacteria · invertebrate · vertebrate
Electromagnetic radiation unit
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- intensityStrength or force level
brightness · illumination · ultraviolet · infrared · visible light · luminance · irradiance · fluorescence
retina
Light-sensing tissue layer
- rodsThin cylindrical shafts
- conesTapering geometric solids
- photoreceptorsCells sensing light
transduction · chromophore · isomerization · bleaching · adaptation · cascade · ganglion · bipolar · horizontal · photon
sight
Visual perception faculty
- visual perceptionOcular sensory processing
- color visionPerceiving hue differences
- night visionAbility to see dimly
scotopic · acuity · contrast · depth perception · motion detection · peripheral vision · fovea · macula · blind spot
optic nerve
Retina-brain neural connection
- visual cortexBrain's sight-processing region
- neurotransmissionNerve cell chemical communication
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
neuron · signal processing · brain · cortex · action potential · off-center
eyespot
Circular marking resembling an iris
- ocellusSimple photoreceptive organ
- compound eyeMulti-lensed arthropod organ
- simple eyeSingle-chambered visual organ
pineal gland · circadian · phototropism · chloroplast · algae · bacteria · invertebrate · vertebrate
photon
Electromagnetic radiation unit
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- absorptionProcess of taking in
intensity · brightness · illumination · ultraviolet · infrared · visible light · luminance · irradiance · fluorescence · bioluminescence
photoreceptionhearing
Perceiving sound waves
touch · chemoreception · proprioception · olfaction · gustation
photoreceptionbioluminescence
Organism-generated light emission
light emission · phosphorescence · photoemission · fluorescence · luminescence
receive, photo, reception, photosynthesis, photoreceptor, photosensitive, photosensitivity, photopigment, photosensitized