jeb204487.full.pdf (1.76 MB)
Object colours, material properties and animal signals
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 20:24 authored by Lucas Wilkins, Daniel Colaco OsorioDaniel Colaco OsorioHumans and other animals often use colour to recognise objects regardless of their context – as a measure of material properties rather than of their contrast with a background. Most work on visual communication signals is, however, concerned with colour differences, typically scaled by just noticeable differences (JNDs). Here, we move from the prevailing physiological framework to understand what a given colour or type of colour might tell an animal about an object. To this end, we consider the properties of object colour solids, which represent the colour gamut of reflective materials for a given type of animal eye. The geometry of colour solids reveals general relationships between colours and object properties, which can explain why certain colours are significant to animals, and hence evolve as signals. We define a measure of colour vividness, such that points on the surface are maximally vivid and the ‘grey’ centre is minimally vivid. We show that a vivid colour for one animal is likely to be vivid for others, and highly vivid colours are less easily mimicked than less vivid colours. Furthermore, vivid colours such as black, white, red and blue, as well as pale colours and certain unsaturated shades, are produced by pure or orderly materials. Such materials are created and maintained against entropic processes. Vivid colours are therefore indicative of ecological affordance or biological function, so it is valuable to have low-level psychological biases towards these colours regardless of any specific significance they might have to the receiver.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
The Journal of Experimental BiologyISSN
0022-0949Publisher
Company of BiologistsExternal DOI
Issue
21Volume
222Page range
1-10Department affiliated with
- Biology and Environmental Science Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-01-27First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-11-07First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-01-27Usage metrics
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