Eli5 how when you look at something that has a brighter background for a long time, and you suddenly close your eyes. How does that image get “burned” in your brain for about a minute?

Question

Was looking at my phone near my window and it was quite sunny outside, I suddenly turn around and shut my eyes for a second and the image of my phone and the light from the window was burned into my mind for 30 seconds or so. I’ve seen optical illusions work like that before where you stare at a dot on your computer screen then look around your room. So, how does it work?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Your retina in your eyeball is loaded with rods and cones. Iirc, rods are light/dark::white/black; cones are for colors. They’ll get tired after absorbing a particular color for awhile, so when you look at something different and the colors are different it’s because your cones are taking a break absorbing the new intake.