Tetrachromats see more colors than trichromats

[Pythagorean]

Apparently, women can have a fourth cone that allows them to see a greater diversity of colors...?

Living among us are people with four cones, who might experience a range of colors invisible to the rest. It’s possible these so-called tetrachromats see a hundred million colors, with each familiar hue fracturing into a hundred more subtle shades for which there are no names, no paint swatches. And because perceiving color is a personal experience, they would have no way of knowing they see far beyond what we consider the limits of human vision.

non-peer-reviewed article:

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jul-aug/06-humans-with-super-human-vision/article_view?b_start:int=0&-C=

 

[apeiron]

...with each familiar hue fracturing into a hundred more subtle shades...

This bit probably isn't right. All the extra hues would be expected to be crammed into a narrow range because the doubled-up pigment varients are so close to each other. So it would be like seeing many more hues of yellowy-orange rather than extra hues across the whole colour spectrum.

At least one of the women in the earlier tests about 10 years ago, who was keen on tapestry, complained she could never find the right shades of orange yarn because manufacturers left great gaps in this part of the spectrum.

 

[lisab]

This may help to explain why so many of my xy friends can't tell maize from sunglow.

 

[zoobyshoe]

This is patently unfair and sexist! I want 4 cones!

 

[LudusRex]

I find the concept of tetrachromats and their ability to see a wider range of colors fascinating. While most humans are trichromats, meaning we have three types of color-sensitive cones in our eyes, there is evidence to suggest that some individuals, primarily women, may have a fourth cone that allows them to perceive a greater diversity of colors. This would mean that they can see a hundred million colors, compared to the one million colors that trichromats can see. This is a significant difference and could potentially open up a whole new world of colors and shades that we are currently unable to perceive.

However, it is important to note that the existence of tetrachromats and their ability to see more colors is still a topic of debate and further research is needed to fully understand this phenomenon. Additionally, color perception is a highly individual experience and it is possible that even among tetrachromats, there may be variations in the colors they can see and how they perceive them.

The idea of tetrachromats challenges our understanding of human vision and raises questions about the limits of our perception. It also highlights the importance of diversity in our species and the potential for individuals to possess unique abilities and experiences. As scientists, it is our responsibility to continue studying and learning about tetrachromats and their extraordinary vision, and to explore the implications of this discovery for our understanding of color and human perception.