| Jameson, K.A., Highnote, S.M. Richer color experience in observers with multiple photopigment opsin genes Psychonomics Bulletin & Review 2001 (8)2:244-261 [pdf] |
| Traditional color vision theory posits that three types of retinal photopigrnents transduce light into a trivariate neural color code, thereby explaining color-matching behaviors. This principle of trichromacy is in need of reexamination in view of molecular genetics results suggesting that a substantial percentage of women possess more than three classes of retinal photopigrnents. At issue is the question of whether four-photopigrnent retinas necessarily yield trichromatic color perception. In the present paper, we review results and theory underlying the accepted photoreceptor-based model of trichromacy. A review of the psychological literature shows that gender-linked differences in color perception warrant further investigation of retinal photopigrnent classes and color perception relations. We use genetic analyses to examine an important position in the gene sequence, and we empirically assess and compare the color perception of individuals possessing more than three retinal photopigment genes with those possessing fewer retinal photopigrnent genes. Women with four-photopigment genotypes are found to perceive significantly more chromatic appearances in comparison with either male or female trichromat controls. We provide a rationale for this previously undetected finding and discuss implications for theories of color perception and gender differences in color behavior. |
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| Burgund, E.D., Marsolek, C.J. Viewpoint-invariant and viewpoint-dependent object recognition in dissociable neural subsystems Psychonomics Bulletin & Review 2000 (7)3:480-489 [pdf] |
| Participants viewed objects in the central visual field and then named either same or different depthorientation views of these objects presented briefly in the left or the right visual field. The differentorientation views contained either the same or a different set of parts and relations. Viewpoint-dependent priming was observed when test views were presented directly to the right hemisphere (RH), but not when test views were presented directly to the left hemisphere (LH). Moreover, this pattern of results did not depend on whether the same or a different set of parts and relations could be recovered from the different-orientation views. Results support the theory that a specific subsystem operates more effectively than an abstract subsystem in the RH and stores objects in a manner that produces viewpointdependent effects, whereas an abstract subsystem operates more effectively than a specific subsystem in the LH and does not store objects in a viewpoint-dependent manner. |
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