PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.2: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Color Vision, Sclera

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Dan Meegan

Document Summary

We use vision to navigate and communicate. Primary function of the eye is to gather light and change it into action potential. Light refers to the radiation that occupies a relatively narrow band of electromagnetic spectrum. Light travels in waves with two different properties, length and amplitude. Wavelength: refers to the distance between peaks of a wave, different wavelengths correspond with different colours on electromagnetic spectrum. Long wavelengths = reddish colours and short wavelengths = bluish colours. Researchers think the visual spectrum was created in humans so we could tell the difference between colours of fruit, some think it is for social cues to be noticed such as blushing. Low amplitude waves are seen as dim colours and high amplitude are seen as bright colours. If a bunch of light waves are clustered near one wavelength, you will see intense, vivid colour. Sclera: white, outer surface of the eye.