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When the eye is stimulated intermittently whilst the auditory stimulus is continuous, there is only muscular response to input from the eye. The reason the eye is stimulated intermittently is so that adaptation does not happen. Adaptation is when sensitivity is lost. So the system adapts to the stimulus and nothing happens. Neuron C receives electrochemical signals sent from the eye and the ear and sums them up, timing is an important factor in doing this sum. The reason adaptation occurs is because neuron C receives a positive +1 signal from the eye and a negative signal from the ear -1 when these two are summed up they equal one meaning nothing happens to muscles.

The first stage of visual processing occurs in the retina. The receptive cells are modified and named rods and cones they release neurotransmitter molecules that control activity of the bipolar cells. Axons of the ganglion cells form the optic nerve which carries information to the brain. These cells do not conduct action potentials; they affect each other through graded changes in electrical potentials. However ganglion cells do not have action potentials. This information is passed in through the lateral geniculate nucleus, axons are sent back and fourth between the lateral geniculate and striate cortex through optic radiation then this information is passed on to the primary visual cortex.

When the eye is stimulated intermittently and continuous auditory stimulus is present the function of neuron C changes. Neuron C changes its function and only inhibits the stimulus from the eye. When the ear adapts, neuron C synchronizes with input that comes from the eye only. With adaptation there will be over time no activity or response coming from the ear so neuron C only inhibits half the information.