True or false: One type of cone alone cannot differentiate between different wavelengths of light.

True or false: One type of cone alone cannot differentiate between different wavelengths of light.

• A. False
• B. Only under bright light
• C. True
• D. Depends on intensity

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is that color discrimination comes from comparing signals from multiple cone types, each with different spectral sensitivities. A single type of cone responds to light primarily as a measure of brightness, not wavelength, because it doesn’t provide the different patterns of activation needed to distinguish colors. With just one cone type, you’d have grayscale-like perception: you’d know how strong the light is, but not what color it is. So the statement is true: one type of cone alone cannot differentiate between different wavelengths of light. Intensity can change how strongly that lone cone responds, but it doesn’t create distinct color information without additional cone types to compare.

The essential idea is that color discrimination comes from comparing signals from multiple cone types, each with different spectral sensitivities. A single type of cone responds to light primarily as a measure of brightness, not wavelength, because it doesn’t provide the different patterns of activation needed to distinguish colors. With just one cone type, you’d have grayscale-like perception: you’d know how strong the light is, but not what color it is.

So the statement is true: one type of cone alone cannot differentiate between different wavelengths of light. Intensity can change how strongly that lone cone responds, but it doesn’t create distinct color information without additional cone types to compare.