76. When Jaxon stares at a red object for a period of time and then looks at a white surface, she sees a green afterimage of the red object. This phenomenon is best explained by
Answer: A
The phenomenon is best explained by the opponent-process theory.
When Jaxon stares at a red object and then looks at a white surface, the green afterimage she perceives is a result of the opponent-process theory, which explains how color perception occurs through opposing color pairs.
A) the opponent-process theory
This option is correct because the opponent-process theory posits that colors are perceived in terms of opposing pairs: red versus green, blue versus yellow, and black versus white. When Jaxon looks at the red object, the receptors for red become fatigued, leading to an afterimage in the opposing color, green, when she gazes at a white surface.
B) the trichromatic theory
This option is incorrect because the trichromatic theory describes color vision based on three types of cones in the retina that are sensitive to red, green, and blue light. While this theory explains how colors are mixed, it does not account for the afterimages that occur after prolonged exposure to a specific color.
C) the gate-control theory
This option is incorrect as the gate-control theory relates to the processing of pain signals rather than color perception. It does not provide an explanation for why Jaxon sees a green afterimage after staring at a red object.
D) Weber’s law
This option is incorrect because Weber’s law is concerned with the perception of changes in stimuli, specifically the just-noticeable difference between two stimuli. It does not explain the occurrence of afterimages or the perception of color in this context.
E) the just-noticeable difference
This option is incorrect as it refers to the smallest change in stimulus intensity that can be detected. While it is related to sensory perception, it does not apply to the afterimage phenomenon Jaxon experiences.
Conclusion
The opponent-process theory is the definitive explanation for Jaxon’s experience of a green afterimage after viewing a red object, as it directly addresses the mechanism of opposing color pairs in visual perception. In contrast, all other options fail to adequately explain the occurrence of afterimages or the specific color perception involved in this scenario.