Opponent theory is a theory of color vision that was developed in the late 1800s by German scientist Ewald Hering. According to the theory, color vision is based on the interaction of three primary colors, red, green, and blue, and their opponent colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan. The theory states that the receptors in the human eye respond to the primary colors, and then the brain processes the information to create a perception of the color.
The theory was initially proposed in the late 19th century, when Hering proposed that the three opponent colors are the basis of color vision. He claimed that these colors are in opposition to one another and that the perception of color is a result of the interaction between the opposing colors. Hering also proposed that the perception of color is based on the relative intensity of the opponent colors.
The opponent theory of color vision has been supported by research in the fields of psychology, physiology, and neuroscience. Studies have shown that the human visual system has three types of color-sensitive cells (cones) that are sensitive to the primary colors, red, green, and blue. The opponent cells are also sensitive to the opponent colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
Studies have also shown that the opponent cells interact with one another to create a perception of color. For example, when a person looks at a red object, the red cones are activated, and the yellow cones are inhibited. This creates a perception of red. Similarly, when a person looks at a yellow object, the yellow cones are activated, and the red cones are inhibited. This creates a perception of yellow.
The opponent theory of color vision has been supported by a variety of research studies. For example, a study by Krantz et al. (2017) investigated the neural basis of color discrimination. The study found that the neural pathways involved in color perception are organized in a manner that is consistent with the opponent theory of color vision.
In conclusion, the opponent theory of color vision is a well-supported theory that has been backed up by a variety of research studies. The theory states that color vision is based on the interaction of three primary colors and their opponent colors, and that the perception of color is based on the relative intensity of the opponent colors.
References
Krantz, J. C., Teller, D. Y., & Teller, M. (2017). Neural basis of color discrimination revealed by high-resolution fmri. PLoS One, 12(4), e0175196. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175196