Light-sensing cells in your retinas transform light and color into electrical signals. But, to turn that information into a complete picture of the world around you, those signals need to be relayed to multiple areas of the brain quickly and accurately. That’s the job of cells like these — retinal ganglion cells. They transmit electrical impulses from photoreceptor cells down long axons that extend to the thalamus, hypothalamus, and areas in the midbrain. These long cables form the axon bundle known as the optic nerve.
Annie Cavanagh
About the Author
Michael W. Richardson
Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.
References
Zhou, Z. J., & McCall, M. A. (2008). Retinal ganglion cells in model organisms: development, function and disease. The Journal of Physiology, 586(18), 4343–4345.
doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.160838
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