In trichromats, color vision entails the projection of an infinite-dimensional space (the one containing all possible electromagnetic power spectra) onto the 3-dimensional space determined by the three types of cones. This drastic reduction in dimensionality gives rise to metamerism, that is, the perceptual chromatic equivalence between two different light spectra. The classes of equivalence of metamerism is revealed by color-matching experiments, in which observers equalize a monochromatic target stimulus with the superposition of three light beams of different wavelengths (the primaries) by adjusting their intensities. The linear relation between the color matching functions and the absorption probabilities of each type of cone is here used to find the collection of primariesthat need to be chosen in order to obtain quasi orthogonal, or alternatively, almost-always positive, color-matching functions. Moreover, previous studies have shown that there is a certain trial-to-trial and subject-to-subject variability in the color matching functions. So far, no theoretical description has been offered to explain the trial-to-trial variability , whereas the sources of the subject-to-subject variability have been associated with individual differences in the properties of the peripheral visual system. Here we explore the role of the Poissonian nature of photon capture on the wavelength-dependence of the trial-to-trial variability in the color matching functions, as well as their correlations .
In trichromats, color vision entails the projection of an infinite-dimensional space (the one containing all possible electromagnetic power spectra) onto the 3-dimensional space that modulates the activity of the three types of cones. This drastic reduction in dimensionality gives rise to metamerism, that is, the perceptual chromatic equivalence between two different light spectra. The classes of equivalence of metamerism are revealed by color-matching experiments, in which observers adjust the intensity of three monochromatic light beams of three pre-set wavelengths (the primaries) to produce a mixture that is perceptually equal to a given monochromatic target stimulus. Here we use the linear relation between the color matching functions and the absorption probabilities of each type of cone to find particularly useful triplets of primaries. As a second goal, we also derive an analytical description of the trial-to-trial variability and the correlations of color matching functions stemming from Poissonian noise in photon capture. We analyze how the statistical properties of the responses to color-matching experiments vary with the retinal composition and the wavelengths of peak absorption probability, and compare them with experimental data on subject-to-subject variability obtained previously .
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is here used to find the collection of primariesthat need to be chosen in order to obtain quasi orthogonal, or alternatively, almost-always positive, color-matching functions. Moreover, previous studies have shown that there is a certain trial-to-trial and subject-to-subject variability in the color matching functions. So far, no theoretical description has been offered to explain
to find particularly useful triplets of primaries. As a second goal, we also derive an analytical description of
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, whereas the sources of the subject-to-subject variability have been associated with individual differences in the
and the correlations of color matching functions stemming from Poissonian noise in photon capture. We analyze how the statistical
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peripheral visual system. Here we explore the role of the Poissonian nature of photon capture on the wavelength-dependence of the trial-to-trial variability in the color matching functions, as well as their correlations
responses to color-matching experiments vary with the retinal composition and the wavelengths of peak absorption probability, and compare them with experimental data on subject-to-subject variability obtained previously