Learn how the brain interprets light and creates colour perception
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
How Does the Brain Process Colours?
What if someone told you that the red of an apple isn’t really there?
What our eyes receive are merely light waves of different lengths… and the brain does the rest.
In the retina, there are cells called cones (three types in most people) that detect red, green and blue light. With this combination, the brain can interpret millions of colours. It’s like a secret code that translates light into perception.
But here’s the most curious part: colour can change depending on what’s around it. A grey can appear white, blue, or even gold — it all depends on the context. Remember the blue and black dress? Exactly.
Some people see fewer colours, such as those with colour blindness, and some see more — tetrachromats, with four types of cones, capable of distinguishing shades most of us can’t even imagine.
In the end, colour isn’t something we see — it’s something the brain creates.
