What are two visual stimuli that are physically different but appear identical due to eliciting the same response in all 3 cone photoreceptors?

The correct response recognizes the phenomenon of metamers. Metamers are visually indistinguishable stimuli that activate the cone photoreceptors (L, M, S) in a way that leads to the same color perception despite being physically different. This is grounded in the principle of color matching, where different combinations of wavelengths can produce the same response in the cone cells, thus resulting in an identical perception of color to the observer.

Metamers typically arise from mixtures of light with different spectral compositions that lead to the same stimulation pattern of the cones. This concept is crucial in color science, as it illustrates how our visual system interprets color based on the relative responses of the retinal cones rather than the actual wavelengths of light reflecting off of objects.

Other options, while related to vision and color perception, do not specifically denote this phenomenon. Isomers refer to compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural configurations; chromatic pairs does not denote any established term in color theory that specifies this interaction, and contrasts typically refer to the difference in luminance or color that makes an object distinguishable from its background. Therefore, the definition and application of metamers align precisely with the question about stimuli that elicit identical responses from all three types of cone photore