HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Borsellino, A. Articles by Fuortes, M. G. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Borsellino, A. Articles by Fuortes, M. G. F.

1. A system proposed in a previous article as a model of responses of visual cells has been analysed with the purpose of predicting the features of responses to single absorbed photons.

2. As a result of this analysis, the stochastic variability of responses has been expressed as a function of the amplification of the system.

3. The theoretical predictions have been compared to the results obtained by recording electrical responses of visual cells of Limulus to flashes delivering only few photons.

4. Experimental responses to single photons have been tentatively identified and it was shown that the stochastic variability of these responses is similar to that predicted for a model with a multiplication factor of at least twenty-five.

5. These results lead to the conclusion that the processes responsible for visual responses incorporate some form of amplification. This conclusion may prove useful for identifying the physical mechanisms underlying the transducer action of visual cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. A. Richard, S. Ghosh, J. M. Lowenstein, and J. E. Lisman Ca2+/calmodulin-binding peptides block phototransduction in Limulus ventral photoreceptors: Evidence for direct inhibition of phospholipase C PNAS, December 9, 1997; 94(25): 14095 - 14099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]