Exploring Color Vision Through Afterimages

What does Nina's experience with afterimages on the white wall suggest?

A. She has a color deficiency

B. She has perfect color vision

C. She supports the opponent-process theory of color vision

Answer:

C. She supports the opponent-process theory of color vision

After staring at a blue light for a few minutes, Nina shifts her gaze to a white wall and experiences an afterimage in the color yellow. Nina's experience provides support for the opponent-process theory of color vision.

This theory suggests that the visual system processes colors in opposing pairs, such as red-green and blue-yellow. When we stare at a color for a long time, the cells responsible for processing that color become fatigued, and when we shift our gaze to a neutral surface, such as a white wall, the cells responsible for the opposite color become more active, leading to the experience of an afterimage in the opposite color. In this case, Nina's afterimage in yellow suggests that the cells responsible for processing blue have become fatigued, and the cells responsible for processing yellow have become more active. This phenomenon is consistent with the opponent-process theory of color vision and provides further evidence for its validity. The theory helps to explain how we perceive color and how we experience afterimages, which can be seen in everyday life, such as when looking at the sun or a bright light for too long.

By understanding how our visual system processes colors, we can gain insights into the mechanisms behind color vision and the fascinating phenomenon of afterimages.