visual cycle

the biophysical and biochemical sequence of events that includes the release of all-trans retinal from rhodopsin during light stimulation, followed by its conversion to 11-cis retinal in the retinal pigment epithelium, and then the return of the 11-cis retinal to the photoreceptor for the reconstitution of rhodopsin.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

holism

n. any approach or theory holding that a system or organism is a coherent, unified whole that cannot be fully explained in terms of individual parts or characteristics. The system or organism may have properties as a complete entity or phenomenon in addition to those of its parts. Thus, an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole. —holistic adj.