Riya Baibhawi

Explained: Colors Do Not Exist In Reality, They Are An Illusion Created By Your Brain

Scientists estimate that humans can see as many as one million different colors. Some even say that we are capable of distinguishing between 10 million different colors. However, do you know that colors do not exist in reality? Instead, they are just a creation of our brains.

Instead Emily McDonald, a neuroscientist and a social media influencer, recently shared a video wherein she explained that objects do not have a <span>color</span>. Color is a sensation created by the <span>brain</span> from mixtures of different electromagnetic radiation. The brain creates color so that we can keep track of surfaces under different lighting conditions. "The way that we see color depends on the genetics of the cones in our eyes, the way that our brain is wired, and the reality that we grew up in, that our brain developed in," she said.

"This is why no two people see color the exact same way; no two people have the exact same brain. If you remember the dress when some people saw white and gold and other people saw blue and black, this is happening all the time, and we don't even realize it. Also, we as humans can only sense a small slice of the electromagnetic spectrum. Birds, for example, live in an entirely different reality because they can see a whole different spectrum of light," she explained.

So How Exactly Does <span>Color Perception</span> Work?

Color perception begins when light enters the eye and reaches the retina, where specialized photoreceptor cells called cones process it. Humans typically have three types of cones—each sensitive to different wavelengths of light:

S-cones detect short wavelengths (blue light).

M-cones detect medium wavelengths (green light).

L-cones detect long wavelengths (red light).

The brain combines the signals from these cones to create the colors we perceive. However, lighting conditions, surrounding colors, and individual differences in cone sensitivity all influence how we experience colour. This explains optical illusions like "The Dress" debate, where differences in perception cause people to see different colors in the same image.

Interestingly, some rare individuals, called tetrachromats, have four types of cones instead of three, allowing them to perceive a wider range of colors than the average person.

<h2>And How Does Color Blindness Impact Us?</h2>Color blindness occurs when one or more types of cones function abnormally or are missing. The most common type, red-green color blindness, affects how people distinguish between these two hues. It is more prevalent in men due to its link to the X chromosome. Other types, like blue-yellow colour blindness and total color blindness (achromatopsia), are rarer but can significantly impact daily life.

People with color blindness may struggle with activities like reading color-coded maps, distinguishing traffic signals, or choosing matching clothes. However, tools like color-correcting glasses and digital filters help mitigate these challenges. Ultimately, colour is not an inherent property of objects but a unique experience shaped by our biology and perception.

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Scientists estimate that humans can see as many as one million different colors. Some even say that we are capable of distinguishing between 10 million different colors. However, do you know that colors do not exist in reality? Instead, they are just a creation of our brains.Instead Emily McDonald, a neuroscientist and a social media influencer, recently shared a video wherein she explained that objects do not have a color. Color is a sensation created by the brain from mixtures of different electromagnetic radiation. The brain creates color so that we can keep track of surfaces under different lighting conditions. "The way that we see color depends on the genetics of the cones in our eyes, the way that our brain is wired, and the reality that we grew up in, that our brain developed in," she said."This is why no two people see color the exact same way; no two people have the exact same brain. If you remember the dress when some people saw white and gold and other people saw blue and black, this is happening all the time, and we don't even realize it. Also, we as humans can only sense a small slice of the electromagnetic spectrum. Birds, for example, live in an entirely different reality because they can see a whole different spectrum of light," she explained.So How Exactly Does Color Perception Work?Color perception begins when light enters the eye and reaches the retina, where specialized photoreceptor cells called cones process it. Humans typically have three types of cones—each sensitive to different wavelengths of light:S-cones detect short wavelengths (blue light).M-cones detect medium wavelengths (green light).L-cones detect long wavelengths (red light).The brain combines the signals from these cones to create the colors we perceive. However, lighting conditions, surrounding colors, and individual differences in cone sensitivity all influence how we experience colour. This explains optical illusions like "The Dress" debate, where differences in perception cause people to see different colors in the same image.Interestingly, some rare individuals, called tetrachromats, have four types of cones instead of three, allowing them to perceive a wider range of colors than the average person.And How Does Color Blindness Impact Us?Color blindness occurs when one or more types of cones function abnormally or are missing. The most common type, red-green color blindness, affects how people distinguish between these two hues. It is more prevalent in men due to its link to the X chromosome. Other types, like blue-yellow colour blindness and total color blindness (achromatopsia), are rarer but can significantly impact daily life.People with color blindness may struggle with activities like reading color-coded maps, distinguishing traffic signals, or choosing matching clothes. However, tools like color-correcting glasses and digital filters help mitigate these challenges. Ultimately, colour is not an inherent property of objects but a unique experience shaped by our biology and perception.