Retinal mosaic is the name given to the distribution of any particular type ofneuron across any particular layer in theretina. Typically such distributions are somewhat regular; it is thought that this is so that each part of the retina is served by each type of neuron in processing visual information.[1]
The regularity of retinal mosaics can be quantitatively studied by modelling the mosaic as aspatial point pattern. This is done by treating each cell as a single point and using spatial statistics such as the Effective Radius, Packing Factor and Regularity Index.[2][3]
Usingadaptive optics, it is nowadays possible to image thephotoreceptor mosaic (i.e. the distribution of rods and cones) in living humans, enabling the detailed study of photoreceptor density and arrangement across the retina.[4]
In thefovea (where photoreceptor density is highest) the spacing between adjacent receptors is about 6-8 micrometer. This corresponds to anangular resolution of approximately 0.5arc minute, effectively the upper limit of humanvisual acuity.
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