Suppose you stare at an illustration of the American flag for a while and then glance at a blank white page. Why do the red stripes look green when you glance at the blank page

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Opponent-process theory explains this phenomenon. When you stare at the red stripes, the cells in your eyes that respond to red light become fatigued. When you then look away at a blank page, the opponent-process cells that were suppressed (those responding to green, the complementary color to red) are more active, making you perceive a green afterimage where the red stripes were.

Suppose You Stare at an Illustration of the American Flag