Non-visual photoreception: sensing light without sight.
Recent work in blind human subjects has confirmed the presence of a non-visual ocular photoreceptive mechanism similar to that described in blind mice. This system appears to subserve circadian photic entrainment, the pupillary light response, and a number of other aspects of neurophysiology and behavior.
Van Gelder
Russell N
RN
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington, USA. russvg@u.washington.edu
D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D055537:Light Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000502:physiology; D000099210:Melanopsin
D017299:Rod Opsins; D000099210:Melanopsin