How do photoreceptors in the retina respond to light?

Photoreceptors in the retina, which include rods and cones, play a crucial role in vision by responding to light through a process called phototransduction. When light enters the eye, it strikes these photoreceptors, leading to a series of biochemical reactions that convert the absorbed light energy into electrical signals. This transformation is essential for the perception of visual stimuli, as the electrical signals generated are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve, allowing us to interpret what we see.

By absorbing light energy, photoreceptors initiate this process, but it is the conversion of that absorbed light into electrical signals that is the fundamental function of photoreceptors in enabling vision. This conversion is what ultimately allows the brain to process visual information and contributes to our understanding of the environment.