With such small amounts of energy as those involved in the threshold stimulus, the uncertainty principle becomes important; according to this, there is no certainty that a given flash will have the expected number of quanta in it, but only a probability. Thus, one may speak of a certain average number of quanta and the actual number in any given flash, and one may compute on statistical grounds the shape of curve that is obtained by plotting frequency with which a flash contains, say, four quanta or more against the average number in the flash. One may also plot the frequency with which a flash is seen against the average number of quanta in the flash, and this frequency-of-seeing curve turns out to be similar to the frequency-of-containing-quanta curve when the number of quanta chosen is five to seven, depending on the observer. This congruence strongly suggests that the fluctuations in response to a flash of the same average intensity are caused by fluctuations in the energy content of the stimulus, and not by fluctuations in the sensitivity of the retina.
A-horizontal-cross-section-of-the-human-eye-showing-theA horizontal cross section of the human eye, showing the major parts of the eye, including the …[Credits : Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]
Horizontal-section-of-the-eyeFigure 1: Horizontal section of the eye.[Credits : Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]
Structure-of-the-retinaStructure of the retina
Muscles-of-the-right-eyeMuscles of the right eye
Myopia-or-nearsightedness-can-be-corrected-with-glasses-that-haveMyopia, or nearsightedness, can be corrected with glasses that have concave lenses to allow near …[Credits : Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]
Hyperopia-or-farsightedness-can-be-corrected-with-glasses-that-containHyperopia, or farsightedness, can be corrected with glasses that contain convex lenses to reduce …[Credits : Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]
Visual-pathwaysVisual pathways
Perimeter-chart-showing-normal-visual-field-figures-on-the-perimeterFigure 2: Perimeter chart showing normal visual field; figures on the perimeter indicate degrees of …[Credits : Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]
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