Fechner-Benham subjective colors do not induce McCollough after-effects.
Fechner-Benham subjective color is widely believed to be governed by local interactions in early (probably retinal) mechanisms. Here we report three lines of phenomenological evidence that suggest otherwise: subjective colors seen in spatially extended stimuli (a) are dependent on global aspects of the stimuli; (b) can become multistable in position; and (c) even after being stabilized do not support the creation of McCollough's colored after-effects--a cortically based phenomenon generally thought to be more central than Fechner-Benham color. These phenomena suggest a central locus that controls perception of subjective color, characterized by pattern dependent interactions among cortical mechanisms that draw their inputs from peripheral units.
Billock
Vincent A
VA
General Dynamics, Inc., Suite 200, 5200 Springfield Pike, Dayton, OH 45431, USA. Vince.Billock@wpafb.af.mil
Ditzinger
Thomas
T
Scott Kelso
J A
JA
Tsou
Brian H
BH
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D000360:Afterimage / Q000502:physiology*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation