UC Berkeley

Retinal photoreceptors are the primary sensory neurons responsible for vertebrate vision. The photoreceptor converts light into a voltage signal that modulates neurotransmitter release at the photoreceptor synapse. Synaptic release from photoreceptors stimulates downstream cells and ultimately provides our brain with an image of the visual world. Hence, converting the voltage signal into a synaptic signal at the photoreceptor synapse is the crucial first step in visual perception. Here I present research conducted for this dissertation that elucidates multiple mechanisms that shape synaptic transmission from cone photoreceptors.