1.6.3 Seeing Color

trichromatic theory

the retina contains 3 types of color receptors (red, green, and blue) and their combination allows us to perceive the full color spectrum

does not offer an explanation for color blindness

what is a limitation to the trichromatic theory?

opponent process theory

certain cells in the brain are stimulated by some colors and inhibited by others

afterimage effect

optical illusion of seeing the “opposite” colors of an image after the overstimulation of photoreceptors

color vision deficiencies

difficulty seeing differences in color

dichromatism

when someone has 2 types of cones (can differentiate between some colors)

monochromatism

when someone has 1 type of cone (unable to differentiate between colors)

prosopagnosia

“face blindness” or the inability to recognize familiar faces; damage in the fusiform gyrus (temporal and occipital lobes)

blindsight

condition in which people who are cortically blind can still process some visual stimuli; some visual processing occurs outside of the primary visual cortex