Evidence that some cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus fire with an increased frequency when the eye is stimulated by red light, and fire with a decreased frequency when the eye is stimulated by green light, most directly supports the theory of color vision known as the:
A)frequency theory
B)opponent-process theory
C)trichromatic theory
D)gate-control theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The firing of cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus that increase with red light and decrease with green light is a key piece of evidence in support of the opponent-process theory of color vision. This theory proposes that there are three types of color receptor cells in our eyes that work in opposing pairs: red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white. Hence, the firing of the cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus can be explained by the mechanism of opponent color processing. The trichromatic theory, on the other hand, proposes that color vision is based on the existence of three types of cones in our eyes that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, while the frequency theory and gate-control theory are theories of pain perception and not related to color vision.

Evidence That Some Cells in the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus