Central representation of colour vision deduced from studies on a subject with a central colour vision defect.

M.W.'s grossly defective responses to red light stimuli are caused by an abnormality of central vision which is highly specific in its action. The abnormal activity does not affect stereoscopic function and only partially modifies the parametric characteristics of the contrast threshold elevation effect. These experimental observations lend support to the concept of parallel processing of different attributes of the visual stimulus, possibly by different cortical areas. We suggest that understanding of central visual processes could be facilitated by further studies on subjects with malfunction of the visual cortex.