Afterimages can be explained by the opponent-process theory of color vision.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the opponent-process theory, we have receptors that respond to pairs of colors: red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white. When we stare at a certain color for a prolonged time, the cells that are responsible for that color become fatigued and send weaker signals to the brain. Meanwhile, the cells responsible for the opponent color become more active to maintain balance. When we look away, we see an afterimage of the opponent color.

Afterimages Can Be Explained by the Opponent-Process Theory of Color