The Effects of Constant Light on Visual Processes

" ... And the evening and the morning were the third day ... And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night ... And the evening and the morning were the fourth day." The First Book of Moses, called Genesis (1: 13,16,19). There was daytime and nighttime before there was a sun or a moon. An interesting thought: How long were each of those first three days? Without a sun to reckon its length, a day could have been longer or shorter than 24 hours. Animals, says Genesis, appeared on the fifth day and by that time the sun and moon were illuminating the earth, presumably in cyclic fashion and with a period of 24 hours. A good thing, too, as readers of this monograph will as certain. The papers collected into this volume are written versions of 45 minute talks given at a symposium on "The Effects of Constant Light on Visual Processes", held at The Florida State University in Tallahassee on April 25-27, 1979. The conference was supported by the Psychobiology Program and handled, logistically, by the Center for Professional Development and Public Services. It was recognized that limitations on time and funds made prohibitive the invitation of others who may be doing interesting and related work. But, our earnest hope is that what is compiled here is a good blend of "true" light-damage and "relevant related" work.

Springer Book Archives

I: Vertebrates.- There are Different Kinds of Retinal Light Damage in the Rat.- Hormonal Influences on Retinal Photodamage.- Alterations in Muscle and Retinal Cell Structure after Exposure to Light.- The Effects of Constant Light on Visually Guided Behavior.- Neurophysiological Properties of Visual Neurons in Rats with Light Damaged Retinas.- A Parametric Study of Retinal Light Damage in Albino and Pigmented Rats.- The Nature of Chronic Light Damage to the Retina.- Light Damage in Dystrophic and Normal Rats.- Prolonged Intense Spectral Light Effects on Rhesus Retina.- II: Invertebrates.- Photoreceptor Membrane Turnover in Arthropods: Comparative Studies of Breakdown Processes and Their Implications.- Light and a Circadian Clock Modulate Structure and Function in Limulus Photoreceptors.- Turnover of Photoreceptor Membrane in the Larval Mosquito Ocellus: Rhabdomeric Coated Vesicles and Organelles of the Vacuolar System.- Visual Pigment Regeneration Rate and Susceptibility to Photic Damage.- III: Selected Topics.- In Vitro Effects of Light on the Regeneration of Rhodopsin.- Solar Retinopathy as a Function of Wavelength: Its Significance for Protective Eyewear.- In Vivo Density of Cone Pigments after Repeated Complete Bleaches.- IV: Molecular Aspects of Photoreceptor Physiology.- Eye Pigmentation and Constant Light Damage in the Rat Retina.- Membrane Turnover in Rod Outer Segments: Changing Patterns of Shedding after Extended Periods of Constant Light and Darkness.- Damaging Effects of Constant Light and Darkness on the Retina of the Frog.- Light and Membrane Biogenesis in Rod Photoreceptors of Vertebrates.- Aspects of Choline Metabolism in Photoreceptor Cells.- List of Contributors.