Helmholtz's theory of color vision

Helmholtz's theory of color vision, known as the trichromatic theory, suggests that our eyes detect color through three types of cone cells, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light: short (blue), medium (green), and long (red). When light hits the retina, these cones respond in combinations, allowing us to perceive millions of colors based on the varying signals sent to the brain. This explains how we see colors and why certain color combinations can create illusions or afterimages, highlighting the foundational role of these three cone types in our color perception.