Question

Which retinal cells produce action potentials?

a. photoreceptors
b. horizontal cells
c. ganglion cells
d. two of these.
e. all of these.

Answer 1

In the retina, ganglion cells are responsible for producing action potentials that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cells in the retina that produce action potentials are the ganglion cells. Photoreceptors (rods and cones) and bipolar cells do not produce action potentials; instead, they undergo changes in their membrane potential that result in the release of neurotransmitters. The ganglion cells, which are stimulated by the now active bipolar cells, generate action potentials that are transmitted along their axons to form the optic nerve. This process is essential for the visual information to be relayed to the brain. The unique characteristics of retinal cells, such as photoreceptors undergoing tonic activity and the lateral inhibition by horizontal cells, plays a critical role in the visual system's ability to encode and process visual signals.