An Introduction to the Biology of Vision

This textbook gives students a working vocabulary and knowledge of the biology of vision and acquaints them with the major themes in vision research.

James T. McIlwain (Edited by)

9780521498906, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 November 1996

236 pages, 146 b/w illus. 4 tables
23 x 15.4 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

'… a timely and somewhat unusual textbook intended for undergraduate students in biology, neuroscience, or psychology … The strength of this text lies in the coverage of the optical factors, the genetics, and the psychology of vision.' Sophie Wuerger, Experimental Physiology

This textbook is intended for use in a course for undergraduate students in biology, neuroscience or psychology who have had an introductory course on the structure and function of the nervous system. Its primary purpose is to provide a working vocabulary and knowledge of the biology of vision and to acquaint students with the major themes in biological vision research. Part I treats the eye as an image-forming organ and provides an overview of the projections from the retina to key visual structures of the brain. Part II examines the functions of the retina and its central projections in greater detail, building on the introductory material of Part I. Part III treats certain special topics in vision that require this detailed knowledge of the structure and properties of the retina and visual projections.

Preface
Part I. The Eye and Visual Pathways: 1. Introduction
2. Structure and development of the human eye
3. Image formation
4. Central visual pathways
Part II. Neural Mechanisms: 5. Photoreceptors and photoreception
6. Retinal circuitry
7. The retino-geniculate projection
8. The visual cortex
Part III. Special Topics in Vision: 9. Spatial resolution in vision
10. Binocular vision and depth perception
11. Color vision
12. Ocular movements
Index.

Subject Areas: Animal behaviour [PSVP], Neurosciences [PSAN]