Seeing the Light … in a New Way
Foster RG.
Summary Research over the past decade has shown that the rods and cones are not the only photoreceptors of the eye. There also exists a population of directly light sensitive ganglion cells that act as brightness detectors and regulate a wide variety of different photosensory tasks, including the regulation of 24‐h circadian clocks, synthesis of the hormone melatonin, pupil size and behaviour. These receptors may even help modulate our mood and sense of well‐being.