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Rod Outer Segments Are Designed for Optimum Photon Detection

Overview
Journal Biol Cybern
Specialties Neurology
Physiology
Date 1992 Jan 11
PMID 1550880
Authors
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Abstract

The proposal that rod outer segment length is optimal with respect to photon absorption and noise control is extended and tested in a number of species. We find good agreement with our optimality criterion in duplex retinae where rods act as detectors of one or a few photons, but not in all rod retinae nor in those which are exposed to significant photic environmental noise.

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