Everyday Science · 45 sec
Color vision
The science behind something you encounter, use, or wonder about.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
Color vision (CV), a feature of visual perception, is an ability to perceive differences between light composed of different frequencies independently of light intensity.
- How it works
Color perception is a part of the larger visual system and is mediated by a complex process between neurons that begins with differential stimulation of different types of photoreceptors by light entering
- Why it matters
Those photoreceptors then emit outputs that are propagated through many layers of neurons ultimately leading to higher cognitive functions in the brain.
Why this matters
Look for Color vision the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Try this
Look for Color vision the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Color vision?
- Why it matters
- How it works
- The useful idea — correct
Color vision (CV), a feature of visual perception, is an ability to perceive differences between light composed of different frequencies independently of light intensity.