Final answer:
The three types of cones in the human retina respond to different ranges of wavelengths and are responsible for color vision. When visual stimuli activate the cones, the brain compares their activities to extract color information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three types of cones in the human retina, known as S cones, M cones, and L cones, respond to different ranges of wavelengths and are responsible for color vision. Each cone type is most responsive to a specific wavelength of light, with the S cones being most responsive to short light waves of 420 nm, the M cones responsive to light waves of 530 nm, and the L cones responsive to light waves of 560 nm.
When visual stimuli with different wavelengths of light activate the cones, the brain compares the activity of the three cone types to extract color information. By calculating the relative activation of the different cones, the brain perceives the color of the stimulus. This trichromatic coding system allows for full color vision in primates.