Color processing in the human brain is a complex process that occurs in multiple stages. The journey begins when light hits the retina’s photoreceptors (cones and rods). The three types of cones respond to different wavelengths of light:
- S-cones: Short wavelengths (blue)
- M-cones: Medium wavelengths (green)
- L-cones: Long wavelengths (red)
These signals are then processed by specialized neurons in the retina and sent through the optic nerve to the visual cortex. The brain combines this information with memory and context to create our final color perception. This is why colors can appear different under various lighting conditions or when surrounded by different colors (color constancy).