Can Vision Exist Without Somatosensation?

Abstract

The interconnection between vision and somatosensation is already well-established and is further supplemented by the evolutionary link between eyes and photoreceptors, and the functional connection between photosensation and thermoreception. However, our analysis hypothesizes a possibility that vision is not just linked to somatosensation, but may not exist without somatosensation. Surprisingly, our photoreceptor itself needs somatosensory proteins for its functioning, and our entire visual pathway depends on somatosensory cues for its functioning.