Final answer:
The three types of cone photopigments (S, M, and L cones) in our eyes are responsible for color vision. By comparing the activity of these cones, the brain can extract color information and perceive different hues. The trichromatic theory of color vision suggests that all colors can be produced by combining the signals from these three types of cones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three types of cone photopigments in the human eye are responsible for color vision. Each type of cone is sensitive to a different range of wavelengths of light. The three types of cones are called S cones, M cones, and L cones, which are most responsive to short, medium, and long wavelengths of light, respectively. By comparing the activity of these cones, the brain can extract color information and perceive different hues. For example, a blue light would predominantly activate the blue cones, resulting in the perception of the color blue.
The trichromatic theory of color vision suggests that all colors in the spectrum can be produced by combining red, green, and blue. Color vision is made possible by the combination and comparison of the signals received from the three types of cones. By analyzing the relative activation levels of each cone type, the brain can perceive various colors.