| Visual threshold is set by linear and nonlinear mechanisms in the retina that mitigate noise: How neural circuits in the retina improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the single-photon response. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21472740 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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In sensory biology, a major outstanding question is how sensory receptor cells minimize noise while maximizing signal to set the detection threshold. This optimization could be problematic because the origin of both the signals and the limiting noise in most sensory systems is believed to lie in stimulus transduction. Signal processing in receptor cells can improve the signal-to-noise ratio. However, neural circuits can further optimize the detection threshold by pooling signals from sensory receptor cells and processing them using a combination of linear and nonlinear filtering mechanisms. In the visual system, noise limiting light detection has been assumed to arise from stimulus transduction in rod photoreceptors. In this context, the evolutionary optimization of the signal-to-noise ratio in the retina has proven critical in allowing visual sensitivity to approach the limits set by the quantal nature of light. Here, we discuss how noise in the mammalian retina is mitigated to allow for highly sensitive night vision. |
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Authors:
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Johan Pahlberg; Alapakkam P Sampath |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-4-7 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology Volume: - ISSN: 1521-1878 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-4-7 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8510851 Medline TA: Bioessays Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011 WILEY Periodicals, Inc. |
Affiliation:
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Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. pahlberg@usc.edu. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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