# Retinal interactions between rod and cone signals

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $377,087

## Abstract

We have an emerging understanding of how retinal circuits work in starlight, when rods dominate
retinal inputs, and daylight, when cones dominate retinal inputs. We know much less about how the retina
works when rods and cones are coactive—as they are from moonlight to dawn or dusk. Interactions
between rod and cone signals under these conditions shape the temporal, chromatic and spatial acuity of
vision. Because rod- and cone-derived signals converge upon the same retinal output cells, interactions
between these signals are very likely to play a substantial role in shaping perception. The broad goal of
our work is to understand the mechanisms that dictate how rod- and cone-mediated signals interact to
control retinal outputs and perception.
We will focus on three questions: (1) What routes do rod-derived signals take through the primate
retina, and does the route depend on light level? (2) Do rod and cone signals adapt independently or are
there shared adaptational mechanisms? (3) What circuit mechanisms control integration of time-varying
rod and cone signals and what are the consequences for the retinal output and perception? We will
answer these questions using electrophysiological recordings of responses from all major cells types in
primate retina. Similar issues arise in many other neural circuits; thus, the proposed work will improve our
general understanding of neural function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10200057
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028111-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDERICK M RIEKE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $377,087
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10200057

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10200057, Retinal interactions between rod and cone signals (5R01EY028111-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10200057. Licensed CC0.

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