Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Color Vision

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.

Perceptual Constancy

Perceptual Constancy

Perceptual constancy is the ability to recognize that objects remain consistent and unchanged even when their appearance varies due to changes in sensory input. There are four main types of perceptual constancy: size constancy, shape constancy, color constancy, and brightness constancy.
Size constancy is the recognition that an object remains the same size, even when its image on the retina changes. For instance, a bus is perceived to be large enough to carry people, even if it looks tiny from...

Working Memory

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Eyewitness Memory

Eyewitness Memory

Eyewitness memory refers to the recollection of events by someone who has directly witnessed them, often serving as critical evidence in legal settings. This type of memory is commonly used in criminal cases where a witness describes details like a suspect's appearance, clothing, or behavior during a crime. However, despite its perceived reliability, eyewitness memory is prone to significant errors.
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function like a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Perceptual resolution of ambiguity: A divisive normalization account for both interocular color grouping and difference enhancement.

Journal of vision·2026

Same author

Perceptual Resolution of Ambiguity: Can Tuned, Divisive Normalization Account for both Interocular Similarity Grouping and Difference Enhancement.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024

Same author

Improvements in task performance after practice are associated with scale-free dynamics of brain activity.

Network neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2023

Same author

Engineered tRNAs suppress nonsense mutations in cells and in vivo.

Nature·2023

Same author

Parental intrusive homework support and math achievement: Does the child's mindset matter?

Developmental psychology·2023

Same author

Ambiguity is a linking feature for interocular grouping.

Journal of vision·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color

Published on: February 20, 2014

Individual differences in simultaneous color constancy are related to working memory.

Elizabeth C Allen¹, Sian L Beilock, Steven K Shevell

¹Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, 5848 South University Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. elizabethallen@uchicago.edu

Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, Image Science, and Vision

|February 15, 2012

Summary

Higher working memory capacity correlated with reduced simultaneous color constancy for complex visual stimuli. This suggests executive attention mechanisms in working memory may impact how we perceive colors under varying illumination.

More Related Videos

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Published on: August 29, 2018

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Published on: January 23, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color

Published on: February 20, 2014

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Published on: August 29, 2018

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Published on: January 23, 2017

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Visual Perception

Background:

Color constancy, the ability to perceive stable colors under changing illumination, is crucial for visual perception.
Previous research has explored successive color constancy, but the role of higher-level cognition in simultaneous color constancy is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between simultaneous color constancy and working memory capacity.
To explore how executive attention within working memory might influence color constancy.

Main Methods:

Participants' simultaneous color constancy was assessed using a chromatically complex stimulus.
Working memory capacity was measured, focusing on the ability to maintain relevant information and suppress distractions.

Main Results:

A negative correlation was found: individuals with higher working memory capacity exhibited poorer simultaneous color constancy.
This effect was particularly noted with a complex chromatic stimulus.

Conclusions:

Higher-level cognitive functions, specifically working memory and its executive attention component, play a significant role in simultaneous color constancy.
This study provides novel evidence linking a complex cognitive ability to simultaneous color constancy, advancing our understanding of visual perception mechanisms.