Why Do We See Colors Differently?

Researchers explain why many people perceive colors in different ways. Despite color being an inherent part of our everyday visual experience, many report seeing colors differently. So the question now is, can you see red the same as everyone else?

Case in point, the previously trending topic of 'the dress' that went viral due to some people seeing a blue and black dress, while others say it's white and gold.

Neuroscientists Explain the Science of Color

The age-old question seems mundane but is actually less arbitrary than one may think. Scientists explain that color, in part, is for object recognition.

The color statistics of objects are not random. A person often recognizes certain objects due to their color rather than what the object actually is.

These observations show that your brain uses color to help recognize objects, which may explain the universal color naming patterns across vast languages.

But object recognition isn't the only function of color. According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communication, neuroscientists tried to uncover the mysteries of human color perception.

Lead authors, Maryam Hasantash and Rosa Lager-Sousa compared the extent to which memory modulates the color appearance of both faces and objects. To do this, neuroscientists showed 25 participants real-world stimuli illuminated by low-pressure-sodium-lights similar to the yellow lighting in parking garages.

The yellowish hue of the light prevents the retina from properly encoding color. Researchers believed that if the team temporarily knocked out this ability in participants, it may point to the normal function of color information that scientists have been struggling to unlock for decades.

During the experiment, volunteers were able to recognize objects despite being bathed in the yellow light. Participants recognized oranges and strawberries but were unappetizing. Likewise, they were able to recognize faces. However, they looked sickly because the light violates color expectations of a normal face.

The phenomenon observed is an example of how knowledge affects a person's perceptions, where what you know influences what you see.

The findings of the study suggest that color isn't critical for identification and recognition. It is, however, vital for determining the meaning of objects. Whatever object can easily be recognized despite changes in its color but its appeal and significance are influenced by its color.

How the Brain Responds to Red

Using magnetoencephalography in monitoring magnetic fields created when nerve cells fire, scientists were able to classify how people responded to various colors.

The study suggests that color can be measured via distinct brain activity patterns. On the other hand, to definitively identify whether two people have the exact same activity is next to impossible. Hence the question should be whether the relationship or reds and oranges for one person are equal to another.

Despite neuroscientists not being able to definitively end the age-old question of whether we can see red and other colors the same way, science dictates that color is a basic factor of life that we can all agree on.

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