light adaptation

the process by which the eye adjusts to conditions of high illumination, as occurs when a person exits a dark theater into a sunny parking lot. It takes less than 10 minutes and involves constriction of the pupil and a shift in the sensitivity of the retina so that the retinal cones become active in place of the retinal rods. Compare dark adaptation.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 18th 2024

emulation

n. the ability to comprehend the goal of a model and engage in similar behavior to achieve that goal, without necessarily replicating the specific actions of the model. Emulation facilitates social learning.