TED Health
What are those colors you see when you rub your eyes? | Paul CJ Taylor
Apr 15, 2025
Ever wondered what you see when you rub your eyes? Dive into the intriguing world of afterimages and visual illusions. Discover how Isaac Newton paved the way for understanding these phenomena in the 1600s. Learn about the role of photoreceptors in our retinas and how they create colors that aren't really there. This fascinating exploration reveals the complexities of how our brains interpret visual stimuli, turning the mundane into the extraordinary.
07:06
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Afterimages reveal the complex interplay between overstimulated photoreceptors and the brain's processing of visual stimuli, illustrating how colors fade in our perception.
- Pressure phosphenes demonstrate that visual sensations can arise from physical interaction with the eyes, emphasizing the brain's adaptability to diverse sensory inputs.
Deep dives
The Fascinating Science of Afterimages
Afterimages occur when bright light exposure causes temporary patterns in vision, revealing complex processes in the eye and brain. Photoreceptors in the retina absorb light and send signals to the brain, but when they are overstimulated, they bleach and need time to regenerate. This bleaching leads to a phenomenon where the photoreceptors continue to send signals even after the stimulus is removed, creating positive afterimages that usually fade quickly. Negative afterimages, where colors appear as their complements, occur when fatigued cells responsible for one color are less responsive compared to their opposing counterparts, highlighting intricate details of visual perception.
