What is the receptive field?

The receptive field is an area in which the cell is able to perceive information. Although the term is most often used with regard to the feeling of vision, there are also a receptive field associated with sound, smell and touch. The receptive field of sensory cells differs from cells to cell and from the area to the area. The term was first used in 1906 after experiments using light that showed a receptive field of different neurons on the retina.

The term receptive field is most often used in discussion about the feeling of vision. The size of the receptive field of cells in the retina is measured in stages and rates, depending on the location of the retinal cell, from a fraction of a degree to about ten degrees. The cells on the edges of the retina have a wide receptive field, while the cells towards the center of the retina are able to collect information only from a small area. This results in the ability to focus only on a small area in the center of vision while being able to perceive the wide yet blurred periphery.

You can also measure receptive fields of somatosensory neurons. These neurons are placed in the skin and respond to various stimuli, including temperature, pain, touch and vibration. Areas that are more sensitive, such as fingers, have a smaller receptive field than less sensitive areas. Neurons at hand will perceive stimulation only in a small area of ​​about 0.2 inches (5 mm) around them than the information is picked up by other neurons. This allows people to recognize a lot of information about the object from the tip of the fingers.

As far as hearing processing is concerned, the receptive field of specific neurons is measured by their ability to recognize between different sound frequencies. The location of the sound wave source can also play in the hearing system field receptive. Although little has been studied with regard to the receptive field of olfactory receptors, they also have a receptive field.