Class Project: Colour Perception & Psychology1. How many distinct shades of colour can our eyes see?

Humans can perceive between 1 million to 10 million distinct shades of color.

2. What was sacrificed in order to allow an increased capacity to process colour?

We sacrificed night vision—our cone-rich retinas favor color perception over low-light sensitivity.

3. What are the 3 factors impacting our perception of colour?

• The light source

• The object’s surface

• The observer’s biology and perspective

4. Example from maternal language using colour to express feeling

Portuguese: "Ficar vermelho" – to turn red, meaning to feel embarrassed or shy. Ela ficou vermelha quando recebeu o elogio. (She blushed when she received the compliment.)

5. Colours to dim down the energy in a room

• Soft greys

• Muted blues

• Earthy beiges

• Warm taupes

6. Colours to make a neighbourhood feel safe

• Soft blues

• Warm greens

• Clean whites

• Bright, cheerful murals

7. Impact of long-term sensory deprivation

• Cognitive decline

• Hallucinations

• Emotional instability

• Reduced memory and attention

8. First colour discovered on objects of people

Red ochre – used over 300,000 years ago in rituals and decoration.

9. T-shirt colour to increase chances of winning a game

Red – associated with dominance and competitive advantage.

10. Colour with calming effect used in prisons

Baker-Miller Pink – believed to reduce aggression and promote calm.