neural signal processing and opponency in the eye
In: Biology
Your cone cells have [three different kinds of protein](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Cone-fundamentals-with-srgb-spectrum.svg/250px-Cone-fundamentals-with-srgb-spectrum.svg.png) in them that react to incoming photons. The height of the curve is how strongly they react to photons at a certain wavelength.
As you can see from that image, a 500 nm wavelength photon is going to set off all three of the proteins, but in different amounts. The experience of “teal” is basically having a stronger medium-wavelength response than long-wavelength response, plus a little short-wavelength response that is less than either. “Opponency” is the neurons processing the proteins’ electrical output based on which signals are stronger than others, to determine that what you see is teal rather than a bluer or redder color.
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