Mechanisms of Visual Excitation and Adaptation

视觉兴奋和适应机制

• 批准号: 0107507
• 负责人: Alan Fein
• 金额: $ 31.52万
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut Health Center
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-09-01 至 2006-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0107507&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mechanisms; Visual; Excitation; Adaptation

The research described in this proposal is aimed at discovering how animals are able to see their surroundings. In order to see it is necessary for the eye to convert light into an electrical signal that can then be processed by the brain. The eye contains specialized cells, called photoreceptors, which convert light into an electrical signal by producing a special chemical called IP3 inside these special photoreceptor cells. IP3 can be thought of as a signal or a messenger inside of the photoreceptor cell. The photoreceptor cell also contains receivers that can respond to the IP3, and these receivers are called IP3 receptors. The eye is able to respond to light during a dark night as well as a bright sunny day. In order for this to occur the photoreceptor is able to decrease and increase the ability of the IP3 receptor to receive the signal from IP3. The research described in this proposal is aimed at understanding how the photoreceptor cell adjusts the ability of the IP3 receptor to respond to the signal from IP3.The information gained from this research will help us better understand how an eye is able to effectively respond to light over a very wide range of light intensities. This understanding is expected to help in the design of systems for artificial vision, which can be used to aid both man and machine.

这项研究旨在发现动物如何能够看到周围环境。为了看东西，眼睛必须将光转换成电信号，然后由大脑处理。眼睛含有专门的细胞，称为感光细胞，通过在这些特殊的感光细胞内产生一种称为IP3的特殊化学物质将光转换为电信号。IP3可以被认为是感光细胞内的信号或信使。光感受器细胞也含有能对IP3产生反应的受体，这些受体被称为IP3受体。眼睛能够在黑暗的夜晚和明亮的阳光下对光线做出反应。为了实现这一点，光感受器能够降低和增加IP3受体接收来自IP3的信号的能力。本提案中描述的研究旨在了解感光细胞如何调节IP3受体对IP3信号做出反应的能力。从本研究中获得的信息将有助于我们更好地了解眼睛如何能够在非常宽的光强范围内有效地对光线做出反应。这种理解预计将有助于人工视觉系统的设计，可用于帮助人类和机器。