Final answer:
An illusory conjunction occurs when our brain mistakenly combines features from different objects. The opponent process theory explains this phenomenon as a result of cell activity in the retina.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people are exposed to a red T and a green N and asked to report what they saw, they might mistakenly report seeing a green T. This phenomenon is known as an illusory conjunction. Illusory conjunctions occur when our brain incorrectly combines features from different objects, resulting in incorrect perceptions. One explanation for illusory conjunctions is the opponent process theory, which suggests that certain cells in our retina respond positively to specific colors. When we shift our gaze from one stimulus to another, these cells abruptly decrease their activity. Our brain interprets this decrease as if the cells were now responding to their 'opponent' colors. In the case of the red T and green N, the brain may interpret it as a green T. One way to demonstrate illusory conjunctions is through an afterimage experiment. By staring at a colored image for a period of time and then shifting our gaze to a blank white surface, we can experience an afterimage that may contain combinations of colors that were not present in the original image.