HealthAugust 13, 2026
photoreceptors
FO-to-ri-sep-terz
Definition
Specialized sensory cells in the retina that convert light into electrical signals to be processed by the brain.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'phōs' (light) and the Latin 'recipere' (to receive/take back). It entered scientific English in the late 19th century to describe biological structures sensitive to light radiation.
In the news
The article describes how photoreceptors capture pixel-like light input from the environment, which is then transformed into information channels by downstream retinal interneurons.
Early experience reshapes zebrafish retinal cells, alters behavior
Read the full article ↗The Transmitter