A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What aspect of vision do cones in the retina primarily contribute to?

1. Depth perception

2. Peripheral vision

3. Color vision

4. Night vision

The correct answer is: Color vision

Cones are a type of photoreceptor found in the retina and are primarily responsible for color vision. They function best in bright light conditions and are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, which correspond to the three primary colors: red, green, and blue. This sensitivity allows cones to detect a wide spectrum of colors, enabling the perception of nuanced shades and the vibrancy of the world around us. In contrast, other aspects of vision such as depth perception and peripheral vision primarily involve different types of photoreceptors and visual processing. Depth perception relies on various cues from both monocular and binocular vision systems, while peripheral vision is largely mediated by rods, which are more sensitive to dim light and better at detecting motion but do not contribute to color discrimination. Night vision is also primarily the domain of rods, as they are more sensitive to low light conditions and play a crucial role in vision in darkness.