Which color do medium-wavelength cones respond to?

Which color do medium-wavelength cones respond to?

• A. Green
• B. Blue
• C. Red
• D. Yellow

Answer: (A)

Medium-wavelength cones are the photoreceptors in the retina most sensitive to the green portion of light. Humans have three cone types: short-wavelength (blue), medium-wavelength (green), and long-wavelength (red). The medium-wavelength type peaks around roughly 530 nanometers, which lies in the green range, so these cones respond most strongly when we see green. Color perception arises from the combined activity of all three cone types, and signals from the green-responsive cones are what predominantly convey the experience of green. Blue is tied to the short-wavelength cones, and red to the long-wavelength cones; yellow isn’t a separate cone type but can be perceived when both green and red signals are active.

Medium-wavelength cones are the photoreceptors in the retina most sensitive to the green portion of light. Humans have three cone types: short-wavelength (blue), medium-wavelength (green), and long-wavelength (red). The medium-wavelength type peaks around roughly 530 nanometers, which lies in the green range, so these cones respond most strongly when we see green. Color perception arises from the combined activity of all three cone types, and signals from the green-responsive cones are what predominantly convey the experience of green. Blue is tied to the short-wavelength cones, and red to the long-wavelength cones; yellow isn’t a separate cone type but can be perceived when both green and red signals are active.