Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman Ep116 " What is Color? Part 2: Why royals wear purple"
Aug 11, 2025
Explore the fascinating connections between color perception and culture, including why purple became the royal color. Discover how the brain interprets color and the concept of 'impossible colors' that challenge our understanding. Delve into the intriguing effects of colorblindness and synesthesia on perception across different cultures. Uncover the historical significance of colors and their meanings, shaped by cultural narratives and technological advancements. Finally, ponder future possibilities in color perception through biotechnology.
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Color Is A Brain Construction
- Your brain constructs color from cone signals rather than photons themselves.
- Color arises from neural comparisons and processing, not from light alone.
Why We Evolved Three Cones
- Humans re-evolved trichromatic vision using three cone types tuned to short, medium, and long wavelengths.
- This likely helped spot ripe fruit and subtle social skin signals.
Try An Afterimage To See Impossible Hues
- Stare at a colored square (e.g., cyan) for 20–30 seconds, then shift gaze to another color or white to see intense afterimages.
- Use these simple demos to glimpse 'impossible' or hyperbolic hues.
