On the somatosensation of vision.

Abstract

The interconnection between vision and somatosensation is already well-established and is further supplemented by the evolutionary link between eyes and photoreceptors, and the functional connection between photosensation and thermoreception. However, our analysis shows that the relation between vision and somatosensation is much deeper and suggests that somatosensation may possibly be the basis of vision. Surprisingly, our photoreceptor itself needs somatosensory proteins for its functioning, and our entire visual pathway depends on somatosensory cues for its functioning.