Neurobiological hypothesis of color appearance and hue perception

J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2014 Apr 1;31(4):A195-207. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.31.00A195.

Abstract

De Valois and De Valois [Vis. Res.33, 1053 (1993)] showed that to explain hue appearance, S-cone signals have to be combined with M versus L opponent signals in two different ways to produce red-green and yellow-blue axes, respectively. Recently, it has been shown that color appearance is normal for individuals with genetic mutations that block S-cone input to blue-ON ganglion cells. This is inconsistent with the De Valois hypothesis in which S-opponent konio-geniculate signals are combined with L-M signals at a third processing stage in cortex. Instead, here we show that color appearance, including individual differences never explained before, are predicted by a model in which S-cone signals are combined with L versus M signals in the outer retina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Color
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Color Vision / physiology
  • Humans
  • Light Signal Transduction
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neurobiology
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology