• Question: do people see the same colours or do we see them differently? how would we kno because u cant explain what colours you see ??

    Asked by laylaleighh to Alastair, Emma, Hywel, Keith, Vicki on 16 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Hywel Vaughan

      Hywel Vaughan answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      That’s a very though provoking question, and one that has occurred to me quite a few times!
      The more that I look into it, the more I find a raging debate as to whether everyone sees slightly different colours and labels them the same through association.
      On one side you have the argument that every human retina (if you exclude colour blindness) has the same biochemical nature, and that through evolution, we must have had accurate colour perception in order for us to avoid danger and ultimately survive.
      On the other side though, every person is slightly different, with diversity occurring between different groups of people!
      I think you have actually summed up the answer in your own question there though! There is no way to verbally explain colour to someone who may see different!

    • Photo: Alastair Sloan

      Alastair Sloan answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      That’s an interesting question.

      We all have specialised cells called rods and cones in our eyes to allow us to see in colour, but they may all function slightly different in different individuals so although the colours we look at are the same, there may be slight and subtle differences. And you are right, there will be no way to really know as you can’t explain what colours you see.

    • Photo: Keith Brain

      Keith Brain answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      You’re quite right – I can never determine whether then red you perceive is the same red I perceive – because we’ve both learnt to call it red! However, there is clue at the level of the retina (the light sensitive part of the eye). There are 3 separate types of colour-sensitive cells (called “cones”) in our retinas, and these are pretty much the same in all people. We know that each type separately leads us to describe a particualrly colour, similarly between people. However, I still can’t know your conscious perception of that colour. I think that this is probably unknowable, at least until we can monitor someone’s conscious perceptions (currently impossible).

    • Photo: Vicki Stevenson

      Vicki Stevenson answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Some people see colours very differently and are referred to as being colour blind. This can be tested for very easily – there’s even a test on youtube (although be careful the results can be affected by your monitor and should be verified by an optician if you’re concerned) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWyrp3hu4KE
      This only tests for colour blindness which is severe enough to cause problems like misinterpreting traffic lights.
      I think it is likely that people see colours a bit differently, and this probably accounts for our colour preferences and can make it very difficult to decorate a room if you have to reach agreement with someone else!

Comments