Helmholtz Trichromatic Color Theory Analysis
In the year 1803, Thomas Young first introduced the idea of trichromatic color representation. Young proposed that we have three “particles” in the eye that are each sensitive to a specific range of visible light that allows us to see color. Years later, Hermann von Helmholtz continued Young’s theory. Helmholtz suggested that the three different “particles” were categorized by their response the different wavelengths of light that hit the retina. Today, we know that the “particles” that Young and Helmholtz were discussing are the photoreceptors called cones. Each cone contains a specific photopigment that has a specific spectral sensitivity.
There are S-cones, M-cones, and L-cones, whose names account for the type of wavelengths they are most …show more content…
Afterimages are another thing that could not be explained by Young-Helmholtz trichromatic color theory. Afterimages occur when you are looking at an image long enough for your eyes to relax, and then you look away at a white surface and see their opposing colors. For example if you were to look at the color green for a long time then look up to a white wall, you would perceive a red afterimage. The same would occur if you stared at the color yellow, when you looked up you would see blue on a white surface. Afterimages are a result of a kind of photopigment bleaching known as chromatic adaptation. Chromatic adaptation results from the exposure to powerful light that is made up of a minimal range of wavelengths.
Today, we look at the human visual system as a two stage process. The first stage is trichromatic color representation. Young-Helmholtz trichromatic color theory is what we base our knowledge of how wavelengths of light are perceived by cones, and then transduced into neural signals that are sent to the brain. One these signals are perceived by the brain, color is visualized. The second stage is opponent color representation, which explains how cones connect with the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the neurons in the brain. Both theories were true, and are used in combination to explain how humans perceive
There are S-cones, M-cones, and L-cones, whose names account for the type of wavelengths they are most …show more content…
Afterimages are another thing that could not be explained by Young-Helmholtz trichromatic color theory. Afterimages occur when you are looking at an image long enough for your eyes to relax, and then you look away at a white surface and see their opposing colors. For example if you were to look at the color green for a long time then look up to a white wall, you would perceive a red afterimage. The same would occur if you stared at the color yellow, when you looked up you would see blue on a white surface. Afterimages are a result of a kind of photopigment bleaching known as chromatic adaptation. Chromatic adaptation results from the exposure to powerful light that is made up of a minimal range of wavelengths.
Today, we look at the human visual system as a two stage process. The first stage is trichromatic color representation. Young-Helmholtz trichromatic color theory is what we base our knowledge of how wavelengths of light are perceived by cones, and then transduced into neural signals that are sent to the brain. One these signals are perceived by the brain, color is visualized. The second stage is opponent color representation, which explains how cones connect with the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the neurons in the brain. Both theories were true, and are used in combination to explain how humans perceive