What does the opponent-process theory explain about color vision?

The opponent-process theory effectively explains color vision by highlighting the existence of opposing color pairs, which are critical for how we perceive colors. According to this theory, the visual system processes colors in terms of these pairs: red versus green, blue versus yellow, and black versus white. This means that if one color in a pair is activated, the other is inhibited.

This mechanism accounts for various color phenomena, such as afterimages, where staring at one color may temporarily lead to seeing its opponent color after looking away. The theory also complements the earlier trichromatic theory, which focuses on the three types of cones in the retina sensitive to different wavelengths. Together, these theories provide a more comprehensive understanding of human color perception, emphasizing how complex interactions in our visual system create the vibrant color experiences we have.