Abstract
In recent years it has been shown by a number of investigators that the photoreceptors in albino rats undergo an irreversible degeneration as a result of long-term exposure to continuous illumination. In fact, by adjusting the intensity of the light source and varying the spectral properties of the light, it has been shown that the retinal degeneration can be experimentally graded in both amount and spatial extent (1–8). In our laboratory we have been interested in the perceptual and neurophysiological implications of light-induced retinal degeneration. Accordingly, we have pursued a broad program of research to help clarify the relationship between light-induced retinal degeneration and visually-guided behavior and to relate retinal and perceptual changes to alterations in the response properties of neurons in various portions of the visual system.