Stare at the center for 20s, then click 'Show Blank'.
Cyan → Red, Magenta → Green, Yellow → Blue, Blue → Yellow.
Color Opponent Aftereffect
Experience the fascinating 'ghostly' colors that appear when you stare and then look away.
🧐 What do you see?▼
Stare at the central white dot for at least 20 seconds without blinking. Then click 'Show Blank Screen'. You will see 'ghost' patches of color where the previous colors were—but they will be the opponent colors. Cyan becomes Red, Magenta becomes Green, and Yellow becomes Blue.
🧠 Why this works▼
This illusion is a perfect window into the Opponent Process Theory. Our eyes don't process colors individually; they process them in antagonistic pairs: Red vs Green and Blue vs Yellow.
When you stare at a Cyan (Green+Blue) patch, you are tiring out the Green and Blue channels in those retinal cells. When you look at white light (which technically contains all colors), the Red channel (the opponent of Cyan's components) is the only one fresh and ready to fire at full power. Thus, you see Red.
🧪 Try variations▼
- Blink: Try blinking rapidly when the blank screen is shown. The 'ghost' colors often become more vivid.
- Ambient Light: This works best in a dimly lit room where the screen contrast is highest.
❓ FAQ▼
Is this damaging my eyes?
No. It's a completely natural physiological response called neural adaptation. Your cells recover within seconds.