AFTER IMAGE Meaning and
Definition
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An after image refers to the optical phenomenon that occurs when a person visually perceives an image, typically after staring at a bright or intense object or light source, and then shifting their gaze to a blank surface or closing their eyes. This lingering image is referred to as an after image, as it continues to persist in the person's vision even though the original stimulus is no longer present.
After images can appear in various forms, such as positive after images or negative after images. Positive after images are the most common, characterized by the recreation of the original image in the person's vision, but with reversed colors. For example, after staring at a bright red object and then shifting the gaze to a neutral surface, one might perceive a green after image.
On the other hand, negative after images are less common and involve the reversal of both color and brightness. The appearance of a negative after image is the result of the eyes' photoreceptor cells becoming fatigued or temporarily desensitized to a specific visual stimulus. This phenomenon is influenced by the persistence of an image on the retina, as well as the brain's interpretation and compensation for the over-stimulation of certain cells.
Overall, after images provide evidence of the way our visual system processes and adapts to various stimuli. They are intriguing visual illusions that continue to be explored and studied within the field of perceptual psychology.
Common Misspellings for AFTER IMAGE
- affterimage
- aferimage
- afterimage
- aftarimage
- after image
- Afteremage
- Aftirimage
Etymology of AFTER IMAGE
The word "afterimage" combines two elements: "after" and "image".
1. "After" is derived from the Old English word "æfter", which means "behind, later, subsequent to". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*after-", and similar forms can be found in various Germanic languages, such as German "nach" and Dutch "na". The meaning of "after" in this context refers to something occurring or appearing later.
2. "Image" comes from the Latin word "imago", meaning "copy, likeness, image". The word "imago" is linked to the verb "imāginārī", which means "to picture oneself, imagine". It later influenced the Old French word "image", leading to its usage in English.
