Farvedrift

Farvedrift is a term used in color science and psychology to describe the phenomenon where the perceived color of an object appears to change over time, even when the object and lighting conditions remain constant. This effect is often subtle and can be influenced by various factors, including adaptation of the observer's visual system.

One of the primary mechanisms behind farvedrift is chromatic adaptation. When the eyes are exposed to a particular color stimulus for an extended period, the cone cells in the retina become fatigued or desensitized to that specific color. As a result, when the stimulus is removed or changed, the brain interprets the remaining signals differently, leading to a shift in perceived color. For example, prolonged viewing of a red object might cause subsequent perception of a white surface to appear slightly greenish.

Beyond adaptation, other factors can contribute to farvedrift. These include changes in the spectral distribution of the light source over time, although this is less common in controlled environments. Individual differences in color perception and the observer's mental state can also play a role. Researchers study farvedrift to understand the complex processes of color constancy and how the human visual system maintains stable color perception despite changing viewing conditions. This has implications in fields such as display technology, photography, and art restoration, where accurate and consistent color reproduction is crucial.