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Color Vision01:24

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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.
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Color vision variations in Old and New World primates.

Gerald H Jacobs1, Ronald S Harwerth2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara.

American Journal of Primatology
|January 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Individual variations in color vision are common in New World monkeys but rare in Old World macaque monkeys. Behavioral spectral sensitivity tests indicate macaque color vision is largely uniform.

Keywords:
MacacaSaimiricone pigments

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Area of Science:

  • Primate vision research
  • Comparative psychology
  • Neuroscience of vision

Background:

  • Human color vision exhibits significant individual variability.
  • Widespread individual variations in color vision have been documented in New World monkeys.
  • The extent of color vision variation in Old World monkeys remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of individual variations in color vision within the macaque genus (Old World monkeys).
  • To compare color vision variability between macaque monkeys and squirrel monkeys (New World monkeys).

Main Methods:

  • Behavioral measurements of increment-threshold spectral sensitivity were employed.
  • Large sample sizes of macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta, M. fascicularis) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sp.) were studied.
  • Comparative analysis of spectral sensitivity data was conducted.

Main Results:

  • Squirrel monkeys exhibited a range of spectral sensitivities, consistent with known variations.
  • Macaque monkeys demonstrated remarkably uniform spectral sensitivity across the tested population.
  • Evidence for significant individual variations in color vision among macaques was not found.

Conclusions:

  • Individual variations in color vision, if present in macaques, are likely rare.
  • Macaque color vision appears to be highly conserved compared to New World monkeys.
  • This study suggests a potential divergence in the evolution of color vision variability between Old and New World primates.