Question

The collection of rod and cone receptors that funnel signals to a particular visual cell in the retina make up that cell's: A. blind spot. B. optic disk. C. opponent process field. D. receptive field.

Short answer

Answer: Receptive Field

Step-by-step solution

Option A: Blind Spot

A blind spot is an area on the retina where there are no photoreceptors, specifically where the optic nerve exits the eye. It is not the correct answer because the question asks about the collection of rod and cone receptors, not an absence of them.

Option B: Optic Disk

The optic disk is the point in the retina where the optic nerve fibers' axons combine to exit the eye. This is also known as the location of the blind spot. This is not the correct answer, as it does not describe the collection of rod and cone receptors that funnel signals to a particular visual cell in the retina.

Option C: Opponent Process Field

The opponent process theory is a color vision theory that suggests our ability to perceive color is controlled by three opposing systems: red versus green, blue versus yellow, and black versus white. While this concept is related to vision and color perception, it does not describe the collection of rod and cone receptors and their relation to a specific visual cell. Therefore, it is not the correct answer.

Option D: Receptive Field

A receptive field is the area of the retina where the presence of light alters the firing rate of a neuron, such as a retinal ganglion cell. It is a region in which the photoreceptors (rods and cones) funnel signals to a particular visual cell in the retina. This fits the description given in the question, making option D the correct answer. Hence, the correct answer is: D. receptive field.