Helmholtz Theory of Color Vision

Helmholtz’s Theory of Color Vision proposes that our eyes detect color through three types of cone cells, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light—roughly red, green, and blue. When light enters the eye, these cones respond in varying degrees, and the brain combines their signals to perceive a full spectrum of colors. This trichromatic process explains why we can see millions of colors and how the mixture of cone responses allows us to distinguish subtle differences in hue and shade.