Skip to main content

Photoreceptor Signaling Cascade

Meaning

The complex sequence of molecular and electrical events initiated when light strikes a photoreceptor cell in the retina, ultimately leading to a biological response in the brain or body. In the context of circadian rhythm regulation, this cascade refers specifically to the pathway activated by melanopsin in the intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs). This non-visual signaling is the fundamental mechanism by which environmental light is converted into a neural signal that dictates the timing of the master clock. The efficiency of this cascade is critical for proper Systemic Rhythm Alignment.