THE CAUSES AND SIGNIFICANCES OF COLOUR

The world we live in provides us relaxation and gives peace to us through its aesthetic beauty. It may be a group of green trees or a flock of white doves or colourful flowers or any other things like that. We should accept the fact that all these things are unique only with their shape and colour. If all the flowers, fruits, animals, birds are colourless, it will surely be hard for anyone to differentiate them and appreciate their beauty. This post briefly elaborates the cause of colour, how our brain understands the colour and few other facts related to colour.

Colours bring objects to life

Before reading the post, let’s play a small brain game. Here, try to say out loud the original colour in the following colour names.

Try to say the exact colours instead of the names written

I hope you would have committed at least a mistake. You’ll find the reason for this phenomenon in this post.

COLOUR

The colour of an object can be clearly seen only with the help of the light. And that’s the reason why we cannot see the colour of the object when it is not illuminated. Colour of an object is detected by the wavelength of the light which is reflected from the object.

The major source of light is the Sun. The Light Energy that is radiated from the sun and reaches the earth is considered to be the whole energy package called as the Electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Some of the components of the whole energy package includes Infrared light, Ultraviolet light, X rays, Radio waves and Visible light. The light which can be seen by humans are said to be in the visible light spectrum(region). The white light from the sun is the combination of several coloured lights. That’s why when a glass object is faced against the sunlight, we can see a range of coloured lights emerging on the other side. The perfect example to this phenomenon is the formation of rainbow which occurs due to the scattering of the light waves by the rain water droplets.

The main reason for the colour of an object is due to the interaction of the light waves with the compounds present in the object. Speaking in terms of biology, Pigments are the chemical compounds which are responsible for the colour in any objects. These pigments receive the light from the source (mainly sun) and filters(absorbs) lights of certain wavelengths and reflect the light of desired wavelength. For example. The Lycopene pigment is a chemical compound which absorbs the white light and only reflects the red or pink light. That’s why the tomatoes look red to our eye. 

Phenomenon of Colour reflection by Pigments

BRAIN AND COLOUR DETECTION

We all know that the shape and colour of the objects around us can be clearly detected by our eyes. But the function of brain along with the eye is vital for detection of shapes and colours of any objects. This is because, eye is just a receiver of signals from the environment. The received signals are processed in certain area in the brain called as Colour centre. This colour centre is present in the ventral occipital lobe. This region is also responsible for the detection of words too. That is the reason for the inability to tell the original colour of the colour terms in the brain game.   

COLOURS AND EMOTIONS

Colour also has an impact on one’s psychology. The colours have the ability to alter a person’s emotions. The impact varies from person to person as some people consider red as a symbol of love while others consider it as a symbol of anger. So, the portrayal of the emotions caused by the colours change from one person to another based on their psychological thinking, past experiences etc. Generally, the warm colours (yellow, orange, pink) tend to express happiness while the cool colours (blue) tend to express sadness. That’s why most people prefer to paint their interiors with light colours like pink, light blue, light yellow etc.

SIGNIFICANCES OF COLOUR

• Colour helps us to differentiate the objects which are similar in shape and texture. For example, without colour, the tiger cubs and the kittens look the same. Also, you’ll see the dog as similar to the wolf, fox, jackal, hyena, etc.      

Colour helps us identify the difference 

• Colour helps in giving information or warnings across a long distance instantly. Red colour is used in roadway, railway signals etc. as they have a higher wavelength and can be seen from a longer distance.

Colour acts as warning signals over long distances

• All colours are mixed up to give white light. Black is created when all the colours are absorbed from the white light.
• Colour attracts people. The colour of the flowers attracts the insects and birds. It thus helps the insects and birds in providing them food and helps the flowers in achieving pollination successfully. 

Colour attracts everything

• The colour producing pigments in fruits and vegetables also act as phytochemicals and antioxidants. The diet should be planned accordingly so that a meal consists of at least three different coloured food compounds. A recent study has also shown that these phytochemicals also play a part in combating cancer cells. 
• Colour enhances the arts like sculptures, paintings etc. one cannot imagine the greatest drawings like ‘Monalisa’, ‘The Last Supper’ etc.  in black and white or pencil sketch. Colour gives life to the art forms.
• Colour is also used in a form of medication called as colour therapy which is based on the different impulses created in the brain for different colour waves. 

CONCLUSION

Imagining a world without colours is really a hard thing to do. So, live your life happily by enjoying the aesthetic beauty of all the flowers, birds, trees around us. Kindly read other posts in the blog too. Never forget to share this valuable information to your family and friends.