Model for color vision and light adaptation.

A multizone color model is described. It has nonlinear receptor gain control, two postreceptor opponent-colors processing stages, and neural compression late in the visual pathway. It is assumed that gain control can be activated by receptor responses from a test light itself (self-adaptation) and (or) by receptor responses from other adapting fields. Apparent brightnesses and visual discriminations are mediated by the first processing stage, and apparent hues and saturations are mediated by the second stage. The model accounts for a wide range of data, including nonlinear hue shifts in the color solid, various apparent brightness effects, visual discriminations for achromatic and chromatic lights under various adaptation conditions, and effects of chromatic adaptation on color appearances.