The human visual cortex response to melanopsin-directed stimulation is accompanied by a distinct perceptual experience
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Abstract
Significance: Melanopsin-containing retinal cells detect bright light and contribute to reflex visual responses such as pupil constriction. Their role in conscious, cortical vision is less understood. Using functional MRI to measure brain activity, we find that melanopsin-directed stimulation reaches the visual cortex in people. Such stimulation also produces a distinct perceptual experience. Our results have clinical importance as melanopsin function may contribute to the discomfort that some people experience from bright light.
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There is now converging evidence that melanopsin signals reach the primary visual cortex (V1), where they may contribute to and modulate visual perception.
“There is now converging evidence that melanopsin signals reach the primary visual cortex (V1) [82], where they may contribute to and modulate our visual perception [20, 25, 109].”
From Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood (2019) · cites this paper as [82]
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
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“There is now converging evidence that melanopsin signals reach the primary visual cortex (V1) [82], where they may contribute to and modulate our visual perception [20, 25, 109].”
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- Authors
- Spitschan, M., Bock, A. S., Ryan, J., Frazzetta, G., Brainard, D. H., & Aguirre, G. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Aguirre, Geoffrey K.
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2017-10-31
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 46
- Pages
- 12291-12296
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC5699066
- OpenAlex
- W2951378537
- Cited by
- 116
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- HHS | National Institutes of Health (R01 EY024681, P30 EY001583, P30 NS045839)
- U.S. Department of Defense (MR141251)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Keywords
- melanopsin, visual cortex, primary visual cortex, visual awareness, miosis, spectral modulation, perceptual experience, circadian photoentrainment, visual pathway
- MeSH terms
- Melanopsin, Adult, Female, Humans, Light, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Photic Stimulation, Pupil, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Visual Cortex, Visual Pathways, Visual Perception, Rod Opsins, Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Color Vision
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