Final answer:
The cones in the retina are responsible for processing color, while rods are for vision in low light and only detect shades of gray. Statement 'Rods detect color, while cones detect only shades of gray' is false, as it is the cones that enable color vision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the retina that processes color is called cones. The retina contains two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Rods are responsible for vision in low light and can only detect shades of gray, while cones function in higher light levels and are capable of detecting color. Cones exist in three types—L, M, and S—which are each sensitive to different wavelengths of light, enabling our color vision. Cones are primarily located in the central region of the retina known as the fovea, whereas rods are more densely distributed in the peripheral regions of the retina.
When examining statements about the human eye, we find that statement 'Rods detect color, while cones detect only shades of gray' is false. In reality, rods do not detect color; that is the function of the cones. Furthermore, the visual signals from cones and rods travel first to the bipolar cells and then to the ganglion cells. A significant degree of visual information processing occurs within the retina before the information is transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve.