Role of Lateral Inhibitory Interaction in Color Coding

Abstract

A theory of color coding is presented which is applicable to both the Prevost-Fechner-Benham subjective color and the color sensation arising from retinal stimulation by a narrow band of the light spectrum. The primary features of the theory are: (1) three types of photoreceptors which are present in the retina in approximately equal numbers; (2) lateral inhibitory interaction among the photoreceptors; (3) a fixed temporal or serial order in which the relative response of each photoreceptor type is processed; and (4) an integration/interaction period of approximately 100 msec. On the basis of the theory, the operations for eliciting specific subjective colors are successfully predicted.