Color Vision I Flashcards
The ability to discriminate colors
Color vision
Evolution of color vision
May have evoked in primates by conferring a competitive advantage to monkeys in foraging for edible tropica fruits and leaves
What is chromatic contrast good for
Allows us to see objects that would otherwise be indistinguishable from the background in which they exist
-greatly adds to our visual capabilities
Trichromatic theory
- Thomas young
- hypothesized that color information is encoded by a limited number of cones, perhaps 3
- the relative activities of these differnt cones encode color
- referred to as the trichromatic theory
- it’s initial support came from psychophysical color matching experiments
- more plausible theory than thousands of cones
- does basis of modern color vision science
A person with only one photopigment
Monochromacy
-no color discrimination
Principle of univariance
Photopigment molecule absorbs a light quantum, it does not encode the wavelength of that quantum, all information regarding its wavelength is lost.
In monochromacity, what is the probability of Ya being absorbed
0.25
In monochromaicity, what is the probability of Yb being absorbed
0.50
How does a monchromat tell difference in color
Ya and Yb are perceived as being differnt brightnesses, and they probably interpret this as a difference in color
How would a monchromat not be able to distinguish Ya and Yb?
Double the intensity of the patch with Ya such that it now emits 200 quanta, but keep Yb at the same intensity
- now they both result in 50 quintal absorption’s for each wavelength
- both produce the same effect on the visual system
- indistinguishable
People with monochromatic Vision are unable to make distinctions based on
Wavelength
How are monochromats able to correctly label colors under certain conditions?
We show three patches of light to a person who only has rods (a person with rod monchromacy)
- 505, 570, and 620nm, each of which emits 5000 quanta
- tell the subject that one patch is green, one is yellow, and one red
- rhodopsin’s peak absorption is 507nm
- patient reports the 505 is bright, 570 is less bright, and the 620 patch is dim
- ask the subject to assign green, yellow, and red color labels to the patches of light, he or she might be able to do so correctly
How does someone with monochromatic vision label colors
Use brightness to label colors
- the person has noticed that other people have labeled dim objects red, and bright objects green, San has learned to label colors on the basis of brightness
- when confronted with natural objects, such as apples and bananas, the tanks of color labeling may be easier by the presence of other cues, such as the shape of the fruit
Does someone with rod monochromacy perceive colors?
Not easy tp answer
-we know that people with monochromatic vision can be fooled if we adjust the intensities of stimuli, they do not have the ability to distinguish stimuli on the basis of the wavelength alone
Dichromacy curves
- the person has two photopigment, M and L
- each peak at different wavelengths
- have overlapping absorption spectra throughout much of the spectrum
Number of quanta absorbed for M at Ya (dichromat)
60%
Number of quanta absorbed for L in Ya (dichromat)
20%
Number of quanta absorbed in Yb for M (dichromat)
40
Number of quanta absorbed in Yb for L
60
In dichromacy, if the individual is shown two patches of light, one consisting of Ya and other Yb, the subject is asked to adjust the intensity of Yb so that the two patches appear identical
If capable of matching these two wavelengths, the person does not have the ability to make wavelength-based discriminations
-if the person is unable to match these two patches of light, he or she possess the ability to make discrimination based purely on wavelength
It is possible for a dichromat to match Ya and Yb intensities?
No
Why can a dichromat not match intensities of Ya and Yb?
- there is no intensity at which the number of quanta absorbed by M and L or Yb equals the number absorbed by these same photopigment for Ya
- no matter how the intensities of these two patches of light adjusted, they never have identical effects on the visual system
- they are distinguishable because they are different wavelengths
Can a dichromat adjust the intensities of the Ya/Yc, and Yb such that each patch of light results in the same number of quanta absorption’s by photopigment M and L?
Yes
- each patch produces 200 quanta absorption’s by photopigment M and 300 by L
- from the subjects perspective, these two patches of light, which are physically different, appear identical
Two stimuli that appear identical, but are physically difference
Metamers