Question

With respect to the trichromatic and opponent-process theories of color perception, which of the following statements is MOST accurate?

A) The trichromatic theory posits three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.
B) The opponent-process theory explains color vision based on three pairs of antagonistic colors.
C) The trichromatic theory suggests that color vision is based on two types of photoreceptors.
D) Opponent-process theory suggests that color vision is solely based on the activation of cone cells.
E) The trichromatic theory is based on the opponent process between red-green and blue-yellow colors.

Answer 1

The trichromatic theory of color vision posits three primary colors: red, green, and blue, while the opponent-process theory explains color vision based on three pairs of antagonistic colors. These theories are not mutually exclusive and operate at different levels of the nervous system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The trichromatic theory of color vision posits that there are three primary colors: red, green, and blue. These colors correspond to the three types of cones in our eyes that are most responsive to these wavelengths of light. The opponent-process theory, on the other hand, explains color vision based on three pairs of antagonistic colors: black-white, yellow-blue, and green-red. This theory suggests that certain cells in the visual system are excited by one color and inhibited by its opponent color. The trichromatic theory and opponent-process theory are not mutually exclusive and operate at different levels of the nervous system.