Functional diversity of human intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells

Abstract

Sensing light without forming images In the rodent retina, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) entrain circadian rhythms, modulate mood, and signal pupillary accommodation. Such responses are light-driven but not image-based. Working with donated human organ tissues, Mure et al. used electrophysiological approaches to identify ipRGCs in the human retina. The human retina has more cones than the retinas of nocturnal mice and rats. Differences in sensitivity, latency, and duration of responses identified three subtypes of human ipRGCs. Science , this issue p. 1251