The colour we "see" when we close our eyes

[Aki]

What is the colour that we see when we have our eyes closed? I wonder if we are really "seeing" anything. Well the colour looks like black, but it's not really black, it seems like it's a colour that one cannot describe. I hope this is making sense. Please comment.

[TINNY]

what we see is the certain frequency of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the object. when we close our eyes, the photon comes from our eyelids. but when there is no light/photon coming from it (because the source of light has been blocked), the retina will not detect any photon and the brain will not interpret any sort of colour. I'm not getting your point am I?

[Freethinker]

Depending on what specific conditions are. Some of the "color" we see when we close our eyes is light that gets thru the eye lid. It usually has a red componenet to it because of the blood veins. Sone, especially right after closing our eyes is the various elements in our visual system settling down (rods, cones, ...). Remember what we "SEE" is what the brain presents to the "conscious mind" based on various stimulous. As such some of what we "see" is just the brains interpretation of sensations from the eye structure and the pressure applied to it. Try rubbing your closed eyes and you will "see" what I mean.

 

Always remember that the number one job of the brain is pattern recognition. Our brains are always trying to fit outside stimulous against a database of previous experience. The optical system will ahve a certain level of "noise" which is overwhelmed by physical sensations when light is present. It will become the primary data source when actual light sources are removed.

[lindagarrette]

I don't think anyone knows where in our system color recognition takes place. Some sensations are are autonomic. Our optic nerves initially respond independently of the brain. So we react to a stimulus the brain hasn't had a chance to evaluate. LIke the bear in the woods. If your brain is occupied, when you first see a new object, you panic, then your brain figures out what it is.

[TeleMad]

Freethinker: Some of the "color" we see when we close our eyes is light that gets thru the eye lid. It usually has a red componenet to it because of the blood veins.

 

Are you sure its blood veins that make it reddish?

[Uncle Martin]

When I close my eyes I usually see the color blue. What does this mean?

[Freethinker]

Originally posted by: Uncle Martin

When I close my eyes I usually see the color blue. What does this mean?

 

Your life sucks? :-)

[Freethinker]

Originally posted by: TeleMad

Are you sure its blood veins that make it reddish?

I'm not sure which part of my comment you are questioning? The word veins?

 

Hold your fingers together and hold them up to a strong light source. The light coming between the fingers will be tinted by the flesh it passes thru. Part of that coloring is due to blood. Naturally skin color will change some of it as well.

[Tim_Lou]

interesting question...

 

i think what you see is just like an illusion....

its like asking what "color" you see during a dream?

do you actually see something???

 

weird....

[TINNY]

If seeing refers to the brain's activity in reading the impulse from the retina, then I think there is no such thing as seeing in your dreams since your eyes are closed. Like Tim said, it's more of your imagination. Because the impulse can be 'artificially' produced for the brain to interpret.

 

Referring to the original question, it does seem different between seeing when your eyes are closed and seeing in the dark. in the dark you don't start dreaming. perhaps closing your eyes triggers some sort of mechanism to begin your dreams, or start falling asleep and dream.

[Tormod]

When you close your eyes the receptors are still working so you will see color for a while. It's easy to test this - just stare at an object for about 30 seconds and then close your eyes. You will still see the object - in complementary colors - for a while, although mostly as an outline or as a solid block.

[TeleMad]

TeleMad: Are you sure its blood veins that make it reddish?

 

FreeThinker: I'm not sure which part of my comment you are questioning? The word veins?

 

The combination of the word veins with the word red. The rule is that our arteries carry oxygenated, red blood; and that our veins carry deoxygenated, 'blue' blood.

 

I haven't seen you support your position that this rule does not apply in our eyelids.

[Freethinker]

OK, unlike others here, I am and always have been anxious to admit and correct my errors. I was wrong to use the term vein. Shows my ignorance of some specific medical termonology. I had wondered while composing that post if it was a correct word. But did not think it made that significant of a difference to that specific point. That what I was trying to convey, a reddish tint to light passing thru the eye lid because of red blood cells. Thanks for correcting me. I will try to use the terms correctly in the future.