Physics Of Vision Research Articles

A possible origin of the inverted vertebrate retina revealed by physical modeling.

The evolutionary origin of the inverted retina in the vertebrate eye is unknown. This paper explores a hypothetical evolutionary scenario that explains the unique orientation of the photoreceptors in the vertebrate retina. The proposed scenario follows the scientific accepted scenario for eye evolution and gradually builds up towards an eye prototype by considering light direction detection and increase in achievable spatial resolution as the driving forces. It suggests that eye retinas developed along two different morphological processes, an evagination process that results in the inverted retina in vertebrate eyes and an invagination process that results in a verted retina in cephalopod eyes. The development of the inverted vertebrate retina and eye prototype morphology is strongly substantiated by physics of vision. The proposed evolutionary sequence for vertebrate eye development is simple and has the full potential to explain the origin of the inverted retina and leads to an eye prototype enabling visual detection and orientation. It allows the emergence of eye structures like, extraocular muscles, tapetum lucidum, biconvex lens, cornea, and pupil. This study supports the suggestion that a primitive inverted retina in the predecessor of vertebrates is of ectodermal origin and available before neurulation occurred.

“Presented with a Universal blanc”: The Physics of Vision in Milton's Invocation to Light

“Presented with a Universal blanc”: The Physics of Vision in Milton's Invocation to Light

“Presented with a Universal blanc”: The Physics of Vision in Milton’s Invocation to Light

“Presented with a Universal blanc”: The Physics of Vision in Milton’s Invocation to Light

The Physics of Vision

The perception of an image in one's mind filled with vibrant colors comes so naturally for humans that the complexity of the human visual system is often overlooked. This paper follows the journey of light through the human eye and its interpretation in the brain. The wave properties of light are explored as light propagates through the eye while the particle properties of light are examined when light is absorbed by the retina. The computations involved in the perception of color are discussed as well as birefringent properties of the eye.

The physics of vision in vertebrates

Abstract In ultimate analysis, the processes of vision are physical: this article is therefore an outline of our present knowledge of the mechanism of vision from the optical, psychophysical and neurophysical aspects which are amenable to exact description in physical terms.