Researchers have successfully developed a method to hijack the human eye, enabling people to see new colors that lie beyond the scope of natural human vision. The technique, called “Oz,” uses a brain-computer interface to stimulate specific types of light-sensitive cells in the retina, revealing a previously unseen color dubbed “olo.”
The researchers, led by co-first author James Fong, used an experimental technique to activate only one type of cone cell, known as M cones, which are responsible for detecting green light. When stimulated with laser light, the M cones revealed a unique color that participants described as a “blue-green of unprecedented saturation.” This new color was dubbed “olo.”
The Oz technique has potential applications in studying vision and eye diseases, such as color blindness. By replicating the effects of different eye conditions, scientists can better understand the impact on vision loss. The researchers also believe that this technology could be used to simulate full-color vision in people with color blindness, allowing them to see a wider range of colors.
While the Oz technique has shown promise, it is still limited by its current setup. Participants cannot look directly at the Oz display due to the small size of the cones at the center of the retina, and they must fix their gaze on one spot to use the technology. Future development aims to improve these limitations and explore potential applications in everyday color displays.
The discovery of “olo” expands our understanding of human vision and opens new avenues for scientific research and exploration.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/scientists-hijacked-the-human-eye-to-get-it-to-see-a-brand-new-color-its-called-olo