PSYC304 Perception Full Course Assignments Week 5 Forum

Color is all around us, but just how deeply integrated is the phenomenon of color into our senses and neural pathways? Describe trichromatic theory and opponent-process theory of color vision, including the observations on which it is based and the physiological basis of each theory. Lastly, watch the video on synaethesia below, and discuss what it means to say that color is created by the nervous system. Explain what everyday life would be like for an individual with the disorder, including its impact on occupation, relationships, and leisure time. Be sure to include how the disorder might affect the person’s behaviors and experiences in these settings.

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Trichromatic theory and opponent-process theory of color vision

Introduction

Color vision is the ability to see color. The way we perceive color depends on the wavelength of light that hits our eyes and how that wavelength is absorbed by our rods and cones. We’ve known for a long time that humans have three types of photopigment cells in our retinas: red-sensitive, green-sensitive, and blue-sensitive. The question is: why do there seem to be more types than that?

Trichromatic theory

In the eye, there are three types of cones: red, green and blue. Each type responds to a different range of wavelengths—the shorter the wavelength, the lower its frequency and thus more sensitive to it. For example, if you shine bright red light on an object like your hand (which has many different colors), it will appear white because only one type of cone is being stimulated at any given moment in time by this stimulus; however if you shine bright blue light on that same object (which also contains some red and green elements), then those two colors will be able to be seen together because they combine with each other in such a way that both types have equal intensity but not necessarily similar frequencies or wavelengths within them – this means there’s no need for extra processing power necessary once they’re combined together into one human-readable image!

Opponent process theory of color vision

Opponent process theory of color vision is a theory of color vision that explains how we see colors. The theory states that the retina contains two types of light-sensitive cells: one type responds best to blue light, and the other type responds best to red light. These cells are called “opponent” cells because they oppose each other in their response; they do not work together but instead compete for space on our retina and therefore make it possible for us to perceive three different hues at once (e.g., yellow-orange).

Opponent process theory was first proposed by neuroscientist Hochstein in 1964, who noted that the cone receptors are sensitive only to certain wavelengths but still respond equally well when exposed through both eyes simultaneously or sequentially depending on what’s going on around them at any given moment during an encounter with light intensity levels ranging from zero up through infinity.*

Both theories explain color vision.

Both theories are correct. The trichromatic theory is correct in that it explains color vision, but the opponent process theory explains it better.

Theories are not mutually exclusive; they can be combined to form a more complete explanation of how the brain processes visual information.

Conclusion

So, which theory is better? Both theories have their own strengths and weaknesses. The Trichromatic Theory of Color Vision explains how our eyes see colors, while the Opponent Process Theory of Color Vision explains what colors look like to us. In addition to these two theories, there are other theories on color vision as well (such as the Gestalt Theory).