Yes, babies are essentially color blind at birth, but their color vision develops rapidly in the first few months.
Development of Color Vision in Infants
While newborns don't see the world in full color like adults, their vision isn't completely devoid of color. Here's a breakdown:
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At Birth: Babies' eyes are still developing, including the cones (photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for color vision). According to the provided information, humans are born colorblind because the cones are not yet fully functional.
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One Week After Birth: Infants can distinguish between some colors. Specifically, they can see red, orange, and green.
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Around 4 Months: Babies' cones become fully functional, allowing them to perceive a wider range of colors. It takes babies much longer to see blue.
Summary
| Age | Color Vision Development |
|---|---|
| At Birth | Essentially color blind; cones not fully functional |
| One Week | Can see red, orange, and green |
| Around 4 Months | Cones fully functional, wider range of color perception |
