Which of the following best explains the phenomenon of afterimages in visual perception?

• A. Afterimages occur due to the continued activation of photoreceptors after exposure to a visual stimulus, resulting from neural adaptation.
• B. Afterimages are produced by the reflection of light within the lens of the eye.
• C. Afterimages are caused by the eye's inability to focus light properly onto the retina, leading to blurred vision.
• D. Afterimages result from the brain's attempt to fill in missing information when a stimulus is removed.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what an afterimage is — it is a visual impression that continues to appear in one's vision after the original stimulus has been removed.
2. Step 2: Recognize that afterimages are related to the functioning of photoreceptors in the retina, which are cells sensitive to light and color.
3. Step 3: Learn about neural adaptation, where photoreceptors become less sensitive after prolonged exposure to a stimulus, causing a temporary imbalance in activation.
4. Step 4: Know that after the stimulus is removed, the adapted photoreceptors respond differently compared to non-adapted ones, leading to the perception of an afterimage.
5. Step 5: Conclude that afterimages are best explained by the continued activation and adaptation of photoreceptors, rather than by optical reflections, focusing issues, or the brain filling in missing information.