Understanding Afterimages: The Science Explained
Discover the science behind afterimages and why you see the colors you do after looking away. Learn about opponent-process theory!
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Afterimages occur due to prolonged exposure to a visual stimulus, fatiguing the photoreceptor cells in your eyes. When you look away, these cells, especially cones, need time to recover, causing you to see a negative image. This phenomenon is based on the opponent-process theory of color vision, where over-stimulating one color leads to a rebound effect of its complementary color. Try focusing on a brightly colored object, then quickly look at a white surface to observe this effect.
FAQs & Answers
- What causes afterimages? Afterimages occur when photoreceptor cells in the eyes become fatigued due to prolonged exposure to a visual stimulus, causing a temporary negative image.
- How do I create an afterimage? You can create an afterimage by staring at a brightly colored object for a few seconds, then looking at a white surface.
- What is the opponent-process theory? The opponent-process theory explains color vision as a process where overstimulation of one color causes a rebound effect in its complementary color.
- Are afterimages the same for everyone? Afterimages can vary from person to person based on individual differences in their eyes and brain, but the basic mechanism is the same.