In humans and animals alike, the visual system serves diverse functions that can be categorised according to the information that is extracted and how it is used. An important distinction is between vision used directly for visually guided behaviours – see and act – and perception that serves to assess the environment for future decisions. Another distinction is between non-object-based visual tasks, typically involved in orientation, and object-based tasks for interaction with identified objects. A combination of these two classifications generates four major domains of vision. Three of these are thoroughly studied – one is virtually unexplored. The talk will place special emphasis on this unexplored but essential domain of vision, which is likely to have major impacts on the circadian rhythm, wellbeing, and mood.

Dan-E. Nilsson is a professor at Lund University. He is the founder of the Lund Vision Group, which he has been heading for more than three decades. He has published 150 papers in the field of comparative vision, including the textbook “Animal eyes” (Land and Nilsson 2012). He is well known for his work on the evolution of eyes and vision. His current research concerns the evolution of visual roles across animals, with an emphasis on how visual input controls mood, choice of habitat and choice of behavior.