Colour vision

Abstract

Abstract This article reviews research into human colour vision, most information about which has been derived by psychophysical methods. Thus, the sensitivity of the eye to light of different wavelengths over the spectrum has been accurately estimated for the initial photoreceptor stage which converts light incident on the retina into neural signals. Spectral sensitivities have also been obtained, in part at least, for the subsequent post-receptoral neural pathways that apparently recode colour information into separate signals specifying luminance and chromaticity. These and other findings on receptoral and post-receptoral spectral sensitivities are considered in relation to techniques for functionally isolating colour-processing pathways in the human visual system. Also discussed briefly are models of colour vision, the relationship between form perception and colour vision, and inherited and acquired colour-vision deficiencies.