Novel insights into non-image forming visual processing in the retina

Tiffany Marie Schmidt, Paulo Kofuji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

A small subset of retinal ganglion cells projecting to the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other brain areas, is implicated in non-image forming visual responses to environmental light such as the pupillary light reflex, seasonal adaptations in physiology, photic inhibition of nocturnal melatonin release, and modulation of sleep, alertness and activity. These cells are intrinsically photosensitive (ipRGCs) and express an opsin-like photopigment called melanopsin. Two recent studies utilizing selective genetic ablation of ipRGCs demonstrate the key role of these inner retinal cells in conveying luminance signals to the brain for non-image forming visual processing. These findings advance our understanding of functional organization of a novel photosensory system in the mammalian retina, demonstrating well-defined roles for ipRGCs in circadian timing and other homeostatic functions related to ambient illumination.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)77-83
Number of pages7
JournalCellscience
Volume5
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2008

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