Cite as:
Faruq S, Chittka L, Mcowan P, 2011, "Testing the biological significance of colour constancy in an agent based model with bees foraging from flowers under varied illumination" Perception 40 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 9

Testing the biological significance of colour constancy in an agent based model with bees foraging from flowers under varied illumination

S Faruq, L Chittka, P Mcowan

The perceived colour of an object depends on its spectral reflection and spectral composition of the illuminant. Upon illumination change, the light reflected from the object also varies. This results in a different colour sensation if no colour constancy mechanism is put in place, that is, the ability to form consistent representation of colours across various illuminants. We explore various colour constancy mechanisms in an agent-based model of foraging bees selecting flower colour based on reward. The simulation is based on empirically determined spatial distributions of several flower species, their rewards and spectral reflectance properties. Simulated foraging bees memorise the colours of flowers experienced as being most rewarding, and their task is to discriminate against other flower colours with lower rewards, even in the face of changing illumination conditions. We compared the performance of von Kries, White Patch and Gray World constancy models with (hypothetical) bees with perfect colour constancy, and colour blind bees. While each individual model generated moderate improvements over a colour-blind bee, the most powerful recovery of reflectance in the face of changing illumination was generated by a combination of von Kries photoreceptor adaptation and a White Patch calibration. None of the mechanisms generated perfect colour constancy

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