Document Detail


Design of a trichromatic cone array.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20168996     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Cones with peak sensitivity to light at long (L), medium (M) and short (S) wavelengths are unequal in number on the human retina: S cones are rare (<10%) while increasing in fraction from center to periphery, and the L/M cone proportions are highly variable between individuals. What optical properties of the eye, and statistical properties of natural scenes, might drive this organization? We found that the spatial-chromatic structure of natural scenes was largely symmetric between the L, M and S sensitivity bands. Given this symmetry, short wavelength attenuation by ocular media gave L/M cones a modest signal-to-noise advantage, which was amplified, especially in the denser central retina, by long-wavelength accommodation of the lens. Meanwhile, total information represented by the cone mosaic remained relatively insensitive to L/M proportions. Thus, the observed cone array design along with a long-wavelength accommodated lens provides a selective advantage: it is maximally informative.
Authors:
Patrick Garrigan; Charles P Ratliff; Jennifer M Klein; Peter Sterling; David H Brainard; Vijay Balasubramanian
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2010-02-12
Journal Detail:
Title:  PLoS computational biology     Volume:  6     ISSN:  1553-7358     ISO Abbreviation:  PLoS Comput. Biol.     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-19     Completed Date:  2010-05-10     Revised Date:  2010-09-30    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101238922     Medline TA:  PLoS Comput Biol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  e1000677     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. patrick.garrigan@sju.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Algorithms
Computational Biology / methods*
Databases, Factual
Humans
Light
Models, Biological*
Photography
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
Vision, Ocular / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 EY08124/EY/NEI NIH HHS; R01 EY10016/EY/NEI NIH HHS; T32 EY07035/EY/NEI NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections

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