tapetum

n. a light-reflecting layer behind the retina of some animals, such as the domestic cat. The tapetum enhances visual sensitivity in nocturnal animals by reflecting back any photons that have passed through the retina, so that these have a second chance to interact with the photopigments in the photoreceptors.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

manoptoscope

n. a hollow cone used for measuring eye dominance. The observer views a small target by placing the base of the cone near the eyes and then viewing the target through the small end of the cone while closing first one eye and then the other. The eye through which the target is actually seen is the dominant eye.