biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Barrionuevo PAMelanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) play a critical role in regulating physiological and behavioral responses to light. However, little is known about how melanopsin and ipRGC signals are shaped by the statistical properties of real-world environments. Here, we analyzed the statistics of melanopsin, ipRGC codification of extrinsic and intrinsic photoresponses, and luminance using hyperspectral images of natural and human-made scenes under daylight illumination. The statistics were obtained by modeling human retinal receptive fields from current knowledge about ipRGC anatomy and physiology. Our findings reveal that human-made environments exhibit significantly higher melanopsin, luminance, and ipRGC excitations compared to natural environments.Scientific reports29965https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12356983biostudies-literatureMelanopsin-mediated image statistics from natural and human-made environments.PMC12356983Barrionuevo PADiaz-Barrancas FfalseMelanopsin-mediated image statistics from natural and human-made environments.Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) play a critical role in regulating physiological and behavioral responses to light. However, little is known about how melanopsin and ipRGC signals are shaped by the statistical properties of real-world environments. Here, we analyzed the statistics of melanopsin, ipRGC codification of extrinsic and intrinsic photoresponses, and luminance using hyperspectral images of natural and human-made scenes under daylight illumination. The statistics were obtained by modeling human retinal receptive fields from current knowledge about ipRGC anatomy and physiology. Our findings reveal that human-made environments exhibit significantly higher melanopsin, luminance, and ipRGC excitations compared to natural environments.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-04-30T15:45:40.512Z2026-04-07T16:08:30.847ZS-EPMC123569834081739210.1038/s41598-025-15981-y