The Illusion of Color: Why We Disagree on What We See

There is no such thing as a color, according to neuroscientist Bevil Conway, who studies color perception and is writing a book titled "Color Coded." Conway explained that color is not an inherent property of light or an object, but rather a subjective experience generated by the brain.

This perspective arises from observations that people can disagree about the color of the same object, even when looking at it under the same conditions. A common example is the debate over whether tennis balls are yellow or green. Conway noted that such disagreements are rooted in how our brains process visual information. He stated that a significant amount of brain processing, comparable to that involved in facial recognition, is dedicated to color perception.

The traditional understanding of color associates it with the wavelength properties of light. However, Conway argues this is an oversimplification. He points to the phenomenon of color constancy, where objects appear to maintain their color despite changes in lighting conditions. For instance, a peach looks like a peach whether viewed in sunlight or artificial light, even though the wavelengths of light reflecting off it differ significantly. Conway emphasizes that color is not merely wavelength but a