Final answer:
A retinal ganglion cell receives inputs from multiple bipolar cells, which are typically either ON center or OFF center to maintain the character of the ganglion cell. Horizontal and amacrine cells modulate these signals, contributing to the retina's visual processing capabilities leading up to the optic nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the retina's structure, connectivity is more complex than a simple one-to-one relationship across cell types. A single ganglion cell can indeed receive inputs from multiple bipolar cells. Also, each ganglion cell typically focuses on input primarily from either ON center or OFF center bipolar cells, but not a mix, to maintain its character as an ON or OFF ganglion cell. This connectivity is part of the retina's way of processing visual signals including aspects like contrast and edge detection.
Moreover, horizontal cells and amacrine cells play crucial roles in shaping the signaling that reaches ganglion cells. Horizontal cells engage in lateral inhibition which enhances contrast by regulating the influence of photoreceptors and bipolar cells. Amacrine cells can distribute the signal from one bipolar cell to several ganglion cells, further integrating the visual information.
Photoreceptors, through their tonic activity, regulate the baseline activity of bipolar and subsequently ganglion cells. Thus, the retinal circuit is capable of encoding changes in light intensity rather than just the presence or absence of light, leading to a robust mechanism for visual processing before the information reaches the brain via the optic nerve.