Afterimages

Definition

Afterimages are the visual illusions that occur when we continue to see an image even after it has been removed from our field of vision. They can be positive (retaining the original colors) or negative (inverted colors).

Related terms

Opponent-process Theory: This theory suggests that color perception is based on three pairs of opposing color receptors in our eyes. For example, red-green and blue-yellow are opponent processes.

Retinal Fatigue: After staring at a specific color for a long time, the photoreceptors responsible for that color become fatigued and less responsive, leading to afterimages.

Negative Afterimage: A type of afterimage where the colors appear inverted compared to the original image. For example, if you stare at a green object and then look away, you might see a red afterimage.