B
Cone cell
We have color vision as a mechanism to increase our visual
discrimination, as a means to increase contrast. One theory holds that
color is a secondary development arising from the relentless pursuit of
high acuity which finished with the evolutionary development of the
primate midget system. This retinal circuit has reached the ultimate
precision with one cone connected to one midget bipolar cell which, in
turn, is connected to one midget ganglion cell. This circuit then is color
coded because it is connected to only one cone. Color provides an
extra variable by which to discriminate detail in our richly textured
world. It lends immeasurably to our aesthetic enjoyment but
presumably color perception also enhanced our survival rate by
improving the performance of the human visual system.
Source:
University of Texas, Houston, Ophthalmology Home Page.
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