According to the opponent-process theory, which colors are paired as opposing processes?

Opponent-process theory suggests that color perception is controlled by opposing pairs of colors, which are processed by different types of receptors in the visual system. According to this theory, colors are arranged into three pairs of opposites: red versus green, blue versus yellow, and black versus white. The theory posits that when one color in a pair is activated, the other is inhibited, leading to a perception of color that is influenced by this opposition.

The correct answer identifies the pair of colors that exemplify this theory, highlighting the relationship between red and green. When one of these colors is perceived strongly, the other is suppressed, which is why they are termed opposing processes. Understanding this pairing helps explain why certain combinations of colors can produce afterimages or visual sensations that seem contrary to what was initially seen, reinforcing how our perception of color is not merely additive but instead governed by this complex interplay of opposing colors.