The Opponent-Process Theory Summary
The components and structure of the human eye in conjunction with the neurological system, allow for visual processing that allows individuals to use visual stimuli to understand the environment; In this process the visual pathway is composed of the eyes, optic chasm, thalamus and visual cortex in order to bring vision together. These components allow the brain to respond to specific features of stimuli and, in the process of transduction, turn light into neural signals that the brain can process to create conscious sight. Many complex functions and deeper branches of vision are made possible by this process and others, color vision being just one of many. The brain allows organisms to perceive colors by sensing different wavelengths of light
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First proposed by Ewald Hering this theory proposes the idea that color vision is the result of three receptor pairs of opponent colors interacting; Hering introduced the idea that in these pairs the colors oppose each other and therefore, when one is stimulated the other is inhibited. Three receptor pairs of opponent colors were proposed in the opponent-process theory: the red/green complex, yellow/blue complex and the black/white complex. In following scientific studies, research supported this theory and showed that the retina, thalamus and visual cortex all contain opponent-processing cells. Another part of this theory is that individuals cannot see two colors from one complex simultaneously, for example you cannot see bluish yellow or reddish green , because of the opposing actions. This theory explains color vision at the neural level by connecting the different retinal cones to ganglion cells, in contrast to the trichromatic theory which explains color vision at the receptor level. This theory can also explain afterimages because of the propositions concerning color complexes with complementarily colors, such as red and green, as opposites. As a whole, the opponent-process theory proposes the idea that color vision results from three receptor pairs of opponent colors and is operated by a yellow-blue complex and a red-green complex, the theory states that the colors oppose each other and therefore when one is stimulated the other is
First proposed by Ewald Hering this theory proposes the idea that color vision is the result of three receptor pairs of opponent colors interacting; Hering introduced the idea that in these pairs the colors oppose each other and therefore, when one is stimulated the other is inhibited. Three receptor pairs of opponent colors were proposed in the opponent-process theory: the red/green complex, yellow/blue complex and the black/white complex. In following scientific studies, research supported this theory and showed that the retina, thalamus and visual cortex all contain opponent-processing cells. Another part of this theory is that individuals cannot see two colors from one complex simultaneously, for example you cannot see bluish yellow or reddish green , because of the opposing actions. This theory explains color vision at the neural level by connecting the different retinal cones to ganglion cells, in contrast to the trichromatic theory which explains color vision at the receptor level. This theory can also explain afterimages because of the propositions concerning color complexes with complementarily colors, such as red and green, as opposites. As a whole, the opponent-process theory proposes the idea that color vision results from three receptor pairs of opponent colors and is operated by a yellow-blue complex and a red-green complex, the theory states that the colors oppose each other and therefore when one is stimulated the other is