The Woman Whose Eyes Have A Whole New Type of Colour Receptor – She Can See What We Can’t
Do you see green the same way that I see green? Every now and then, we find ourselves wondering such questions, as we have all come to know and agree on the use of generic colour names like blue, yellow, green, and so on to distinguish and analyze life around us. Surely, we are all unique in the way we view colours to a degree, but at the end of the day, green is green, and so we leave it at that. But not everyone is quite like this.
After searching for more than 25 years, neuroscientists in the UK have come across a woman who has an extra type of cone cell — the receptor cells that detect colour — in her eyes. This means she can see a whopping 99 million more colours than the rest of us, and belongs to a very small group of people with super-vision called “tetrachromats.”
The majority of humans, referred to as “trichromats,” have three types of cone cells in their eyes, with each one thought to be able to distinguish around 100 shades. Together, our three cone cells can distinguish roughly 1 million different colours. Those who are colour blind, however, only have two functioning types of cone cells.
And then there’s the doctor in northern England who researchers found two years ago. Identified as cDa29, she has four cone cell types, which means she may be able to distinguish up to 100 million colours that many of us could only fantasize about.
So how do you get a fourth type of cone cell? The idea was first proposed in 1948, when Dutch scientist HL de Vries discovered something interesting about the eyes of colour blind people. He noticed that colour blind men only possessed two normal cone cells and one mutant cone that’s less sensitive to either green or red light, while the mothers and daughters of said men possessed one mutant cone and three normal cones. This means they had four types of cone cells, one of which wasn’t working like the rest.
But it wasn’t until the 1980s, when John Mollon from Cambridge University started searching for women who might have four functioning cone cells, that interest in the phenomenon started gaining traction. Mollon suggested that, if colour blind men pass this fourth cone cell onto their daughters, then around 12 percent of the female population should be tetrachromats. Nevertheless, Mollon’s tests found that the women could only perceive the same colours as the rest of us.
In 2007, however, neuroscientist Gabriele Jordan from Newcastle University in the UK took a different approach to discovering this super-vision. She observed 25 women with a fourth type of cone cell in a dark room. She had them look into a light device, with three coloured circles of light flashing before their eyes. One of the women tested, cDa29, differentiated the three different coloured circles in every test.
“I was jumping up and down,” Jordan said. “We now know tetrachromacy exists,” she continued. “But we don’t know what allows someone to become functionally tetrachromatic, when most four-coned women aren’t.”
Jay Neitz, a vision researcher at the University of Washington, believes it may require practice along with specially designed hues to truly unlock the power of tetrachromats.
“Most of the things that we see as coloured are manufactured by people who are trying to make colours that work for trichromats,” he explained. “It could be that our whole world is tuned to the world of the trichromat.”
While further study is needed, and Jordan’s results must still be replicated and verified, if the existence of tetrachromats can be confirmed, it has the potential to aid scientists in creating more advanced artificial sensing devices, as well as help us figure out more about how vision works.
Source: http://soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress/content/woman-whose-eyes-have-whole-new-type-colour-receptor-%E2%80%93-she-can-see-what-we-can%E2%80%99t
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

When I took LSD once I could actually SEE music as different colors so this article does not surprise me.