Trichromatic vision in the cat

Academic Article

Abstract

  • Many cat retinal ganglion cells (types X, Y, and W) have inputs from three separate cone systems. Those with peak sensitivities at 450 and 555 nanometers have been previously shown. A λmax cone with a peak sensitivity of 500 nanometers can be differentiated from other cones by spectral sensitivity andfrom rods by receptive field differences, functioning above rod saturation levels, and by cone-rod breaks in the dark-adaptation curves. The similarity of the three-cone cat retina to the extramacular retina of the rhesus monkey suggests that the cat may have photopic trichromatic vision.
  • Authors

    Published In

  • Science  Journal
  • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Author List

  • Ringo J; Wolbarsht ML; Wagner HG; Crocker R; Amthor F
  • Start Page

  • 753
  • End Page

  • 755
  • Volume

  • 198
  • Issue

  • 4318