Analyze the following scenario and explain the physiological process responsible for the described visual experience.

Night Vision Perception

- System used by the eye when there are low levels of light.
- Uses rods, so it cannot detect color
- It only sees shades of gray

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

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There are two types of photoreceptors in the eye: rods and cones. They are light-sensitive receptors. Rods are most active when there is dim lighting. Cones are most active when there is bright lighting, and can detect color.

Photoreceptors

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Scotopic system

- System used by the eye when there are high levels of light
- Uses cones, so it can detect color

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