Final answer:
The process in which rods and cones become less sensitive to light is called photopic sensitivity, with rods functioning in low light and cones in bright light for color vision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which rods and cones become LESS sensitive to light is known as photopic sensitivity. This occurs when we transition from a bright environment to a dark one, and our eyes gradually adjust. In the retina, there are two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones.
Rods are responsible for vision in low light conditions and can only detect shades of gray, whereas cones are responsible for color vision and function best in bright light. The decreased sensitivity of rods and cones to unchanging stimuli, such as consistent bright light, is a mechanism to prevent overstimulation and is different from conditions like night blindness where there is difficulty seeing in dim light due to a deficiency in the rods' function.