Final answer:
Ganglion cells in the retina must work in alternating intervals due to their firing rate limitations. These intervals, in concert with the other retinal neurons and the inhibition mechanisms, enable the visual system to encode visual signals through changes in activity rather than just presence or absence of light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question relates to the functioning of ganglion cells in the retina and their role in the visual system. Specifically, ganglion cells can only fire for 1/1000 of a second, and therefore must work at alternating intervals to process visual information. This is part of the visual system's reliance on the change in retinal activity to encode visual signals for the brain, rather than purely the absence or presence of activity.
Neurons, including those found in the retina, exhibit tonic activity, which means they maintain a baseline firing rate in the absence of stimuli. This contributes to the complex interplay between photoreceptors, bipolar cells, horizontal cells, and amacrine cells, which together enhance visual signals through lateral inhibition and the distribution of information.
Understanding these processes is crucial when studying neural firing rates, the manipulation of neuronal activity with light in scientific experiments, and considering the effect of extremely rapid events, such as light travelling across distances, on the precise synchronization required for interpreting visual information.