About

Juan Angueyra, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor leading the Visual System Development Lab. His research focuses on understanding how retinal circuits are constructed and designed to process information relayed by photoreceptors, which is essential for supporting vision. He has conducted extensive studies on photoreceptors across a diverse range of species, including scallop and amphioxus in collaboration with Enrico Nasi and Maria Gomez at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, primate and mouse with Fred Rieke at the University of Washington in Seattle, as well as squirrel and zebrafish with Wei Li and Katie Kindt at the National Institutes of Health. His work aims to expand knowledge of retinal circuit development and function by exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying photoreceptor activity and connectivity.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Biophysics
• Psychology
• Biology
• Neuroscience
• Communication
• Cognitive psychology

Selected publications

• A standardized nomenclature for the rods and cones of the vertebrate retina

  PLoS Biology · 2025-05-07 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access

  Vertebrate photoreceptors have been studied for well over a century, but a fixed nomenclature for referring to orthologous cell types across diverse species has been lacking. Instead, photoreceptors have been variably-and often confusingly-named according to morphology, presence/absence of 'rhodopsin', spectral sensitivity, chromophore usage, and/or the gene family of the opsin(s) they express. Here, we propose a unified nomenclature for vertebrate rods and cones that aligns with the naming systems of other retinal cell classes and that is based on the photoreceptor type's putative evolutionary history. This classification is informed by the functional, anatomical, developmental, and molecular identities of the neuron as a whole, including the expression of deeply conserved transcription factors required for development. The proposed names will be applicable across all vertebrates and indicative of the widest possible range of properties, including their postsynaptic wiring, and hence will allude to their common and species-specific roles in vision. Furthermore, the naming system is open-ended to accommodate the future discovery of as-yet unknown photoreceptor types.

  PublisherDOI

• A Standardized Nomenclature for the Rods and Cones of the Vertebrate Retina

  Preprints.org · 2025-02-05 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  We propose a standardized naming system for vertebrate visual photoreceptors (i.e., rods and cones) that reflects our current understanding of their evolutionary history. Vertebrate photoreceptors have been studied for well over a century, but a fixed nomenclature for referring to orthologous cell types across diverse species has been lacking. Instead, photoreceptors have been variably - and often confusingly - named according to morphology, presence/absence of ‘rhodopsin,’ spectral sensitivity, chromophore usage, and/or the gene family of the opsin(s) they express. Here, we propose a unified nomenclature for vertebrate rods and cones that aligns with the naming systems of other retinal cell classes and that is based on the photoreceptor’s putative ancestral derivation. This classification is informed by the functional, anatomical, developmental and molecular identities of the neuron as a whole, including the expression of deeply conserved transcription factors required for development. The proposed names will be applicable across all vertebrates and indicative of the widest-possible range of properties, including their postsynaptic wiring, and hence will allude to their common and species-specific roles in vision. Furthermore, the naming system is open-ended to accommodate the future discovery of as-yet unknown photoreceptor types.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Standardized Nomenclature for the Rods and Cones of the Vertebrate Retina

  Preprints.org · 2025-02-20 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  We propose a standardized naming system for vertebrate visual photoreceptors (i.e., rods and cones) that reflects our current understanding of their evolutionary history. Vertebrate photoreceptors have been studied for well over a century, but a fixed nomenclature for referring to orthologous cell types across diverse species has been lacking. Instead, photoreceptors have been variably - and often confusingly - named according to morphology, presence/absence of ‘rhodopsin,’ spectral sensitivity, chromophore usage, and/or the gene family of the opsin(s) they express. Here, we propose a unified nomenclature for vertebrate rods and cones that aligns with the naming systems of other retinal cell classes and that is based on the photoreceptor’s putative ancestral derivation. This classification is informed by the functional, anatomical, developmental and molecular identities of the neuron as a whole, including the expression of deeply conserved transcription factors required for development. The proposed names will be applicable across all vertebrates and indicative of the widest-possible range of properties, including their postsynaptic wiring, and hence will allude to their common and species-specific roles in vision. Furthermore, the naming system is open-ended to accommodate the future discovery of as-yet unknown photoreceptor types.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Reviewer #1 (Public Review): Light-adaptation clamp: a tool to predictably manipulate photoreceptor light responses

  2024-02-02

  peer-reviewOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this hampers our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including the compensation for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of the role of photoreceptor adaptation in downstream visual signals or in perception.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Light-adaptation clamp: a tool to predictably manipulate photoreceptor light responses

  eLife · 2024-02-02 · 3 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Computation in neural circuits relies on judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this hampers our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including the compensation for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of the role of photoreceptor adaptation in downstream visual signals or in perception.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Predictably manipulating photoreceptor light responses to reveal their role in downstream visual responses

  eLife · 2024-11-05 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on the judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this limits our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents – including stimuli that compensate for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of how adaptation in rod and cone phototransduction affects downstream visual signals and perception.

  PublisherDOI

• Predictably manipulating photoreceptor light responses to reveal their role in downstream visual responses

  eLife · 2024-02-02 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on the judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this limits our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including stimuli that compensate for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of how adaptation in rod and cone phototransduction affects downstream visual signals and perception.

  PublisherDOI

• Reviewer #2 (Public Review): Light-adaptation clamp: a tool to predictably manipulate photoreceptor light responses

  2024-02-02

  peer-reviewOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this hampers our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including the compensation for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of the role of photoreceptor adaptation in downstream visual signals or in perception.

  PublisherDOI

• Reviewer #3 (Public Review): Predictably manipulating photoreceptor light responses to reveal their role in downstream visual responses

  2024-07-04

  peer-reviewOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this hampers our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including stimuli that compensate for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of how adaptation in rod and cone phototransduction affects downstream visual signals and perception.

  PublisherDOI

• Reviewer #1 (Public Review): Predictably manipulating photoreceptor light responses to reveal their role in downstream visual responses

  2024-07-04

  peer-reviewOpen access

  Computation in neural circuits relies on judicious use of nonlinear circuit components. In many cases, multiple nonlinear components work collectively to control circuit outputs. Separating the contributions of these different components is difficult, and this hampers our understanding of the mechanistic basis of many important computations. Here, we introduce a tool that permits the design of light stimuli that predictably alter rod and cone phototransduction currents - including stimuli that compensate for nonlinear properties such as light adaptation. This tool, based on well-established models for the rod and cone phototransduction cascade, permits the separation of nonlinearities in phototransduction from those in downstream circuits. This will allow, for example, direct tests of how adaptation in rod and cone phototransduction affects downstream visual signals and perception.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Fred Rieke

  University of Washington

  26 shared

• Jacob Baudin

  University of Washington

  22 shared

• Raunak Sinha

  University of Washington

  18 shared

• Wei Li

  National Eye Institute

  12 shared

• Vincent P Kunze

  National Eye Institute

  10 shared

• Katie S. Kindt

  National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

  10 shared

• Hailey Kim

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  8 shared

• Laura K Patak

  University of California, Berkeley

  8 shared

Labs

• Visual System Development LabPI

  The research team focuses on how retinal circuits are built and designed to support vision.

Education

• PhD, Physiology and Biophysics

  University of Washington

• MD, Medicine

  Universidad Nacional de Colombia