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- Glossary
Rods
The rods are light-sensitive cells with high light sensitivity. They react even to weak light and are therefore responsible for scotopic vision, black-and-white vision, and vision at dusk. The rods are concentrated in the outer areas of the retina and therefore do not provide high visual acuity.
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- Glossary
Transducin
A G protein found in the photoreceptors of the retina. It is activated when a photon hits a photopigment and causes the cation channels in the photoreceptor to close. It is therefore an important component of the visual signal transduction cascade.
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- Glossary
Vestibulo-ocular reflex
When we turn our head, our eyes automatically move in the opposite direction. This reflex ensures that a stable image is formed on the retina even when the head moves quickly. This is made possible by the connection between the semicircular canals of the vestibular system and the nerve nuclei of the eye muscles in the brain stem.
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- Glossary
Cones
The cones are a type of photoreceptor in the retina. The three different types of cones – S, M, and L – are each stimulated by short, medium, and long wavelengths of visible light, enabling color vision. They are highly concentrated in the fovea and enable sharp vision.
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- Basics
- Structure and Function
The Fate of a Cell
From egg to neuron, it’s a complex dance – but the choreography can be deciphered
30.04.2020
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- Think
- Consciousness
What is Consciousness?
As obvious as it is, consciousness is difficult to grasp scientifically.
13.06.2025
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Mesencephalon
Important neurotransmitters, an astonishing array of colors, and a water pipe – that's the midbrain.
20.09.2025
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- Basics
- Structure and Function
Senses and Actions
To prevent animals from bumping into one another, their sensory organs and motor skills are in constant communication.
18.12.2021
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- Basics
- Time
Perfect Timing
Chronobiology: from firing neurons to the nature of time
02.05.2024
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Hypothalamus
Nutrition and reproduction – these activities are controlled by the hypothalamus at the neural and hormonal levels.
01.07.2025
