Color vision

<p>Color vision, a feature of <a href="/facts/Visual_perception/g7Tfaq2l">visual perception</a>, is an ability to perceive differences between light composed of different frequencies independently of light intensity.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Color/XDvW7ESP">Color</a> perception is a part of the larger <a href="/facts/Visual_system/QVcuA27K">visual system</a> and is mediated by a complex process between neurons that begins with differential stimulation of different types of <a href="/facts/Photoreceptor_cell/Ap0DcW5N">photoreceptors</a> by light entering the <a href="/facts/Eye/h3lbYU55">eye</a>. Those photoreceptors then emit outputs that are propagated through many layers of neurons ultimately leading to higher <a href="/facts/Cognition/ga0tSBul">cognitive</a> functions in the <a href="/facts/Brain/EKla9NkJ">brain</a>.  Color vision is found in many animals and is mediated by similar underlying mechanisms with common types of biological molecules and a complex history of <a href="/facts/Evolution_of_color_vision/v2jqSjLo">evolution</a> in different animal taxa. In <a href="/facts/Primates/Hl8RNE2X">primates</a>, color vision may have evolved under selective pressure for a variety of visual tasks including the foraging for nutritious young leaves, ripe fruit, and flowers, as well as detecting predator camouflage and emotional states in other primates.
</p>

Color vision open-in-new

Color vision