2017 Participants
Zhiyu Loh
Colour vision is important for many behavioural tasks, including searching for and recognising objects, and detection of biological signals. People normally possess three types of cone photopigments – maximally sensitive to short (S), middle (M) or long (L) wavelengths of light. These photopigments allow humans to perceive different colours. ‘Colour-blindness’ results from genetic alterations in these photopigments. Previous research has also shown colour vision deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet even in normal colour vision, people differ in how well they discriminate colours. We aim to explore individual variations in colour discrimination due to age and sex, and how these change in typical development. We will test the hypothesis that the visual pathways built on the S-cones develop slower than those for the L- and M-cones by assessing colour discrimination and behavioural uses of colour in typically-developing children and adults.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Professor Anya Hurlbert