Final answer:
Human cone receptors are sensitive to wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm and do not have harmonic responses outside the visible spectrum; there is limited data on such responses beyond this range. Other animals can perceive wavelengths we cannot, but the human visible range is confined to 380 nm to 740 nm. To put it succinctly, the correct answer to the student's question would be (b)
Step-by-step explanation:
To address the question, harmonic responses of human cone receptors do not extend one octave in both directions beyond the visible range. Specifically, human cone receptors are sensitive to wavelengths roughly between 400 nm and 700 nm, which does not include the 200 nm to 1600 nm range.
This is because the red cone receptors detect wavelengths from approximately 500 to 700 nm, green cone receptors from 450 to 630 nm, and blue cone receptors from 400 to 500 nm.
There is no evidence to suggest that human cone receptors exhibit harmonic responses outside of the visible spectrum, which ranges from about 380 nm to 740 nm.
Most human vision research and data regarding cone responses focus on the visible spectrum and not the extended range you have mentioned. Science has established that the human eye is not capable of perceiving light wavelengths beyond the near ultraviolet and near-infrared ends of the visible spectrum, unlike some animals that can detect wavelength ranges outside of what humans can perceive.
To put it succinctly, the correct answer to the student's question would be (b) There is limited data on harmonic responses beyond the visible range for cone receptors, as human cone receptors are optimized for the visible spectrum and do not respond to wavelengths significantly beyond it.
To put it succinctly, the correct answer to the student's question would be (b) There is limited data on harmonic responses beyond the visible range for cone receptors.