Which cone type has a peak sensitivity of around 520 nm?

The cone type that has a peak sensitivity of around 520 nm is the M cone, which stands for medium-wavelength sensitive cones. These cones play a crucial role in color vision, particularly in the perception of green hues. The sensitivity of the M cones is typically centered around the green region of the spectrum, which corresponds to the wavelength of approximately 520 nm. This is why they are specifically tuned to detect light in this part of the visible spectrum, facilitating our ability to discern colors that are primarily composed of green light.

In contrast, S cones (short-wavelength sensitive) are maximally sensitive to around 420 nm, primarily detecting blue light, while L cones (long-wavelength sensitive) have peak sensitivity in the range of 560-580 nm, corresponding to red light. Understanding the specific peak sensitivities of these cone types is vital in visual perception, color theory, and the study of how humans interpret various wavelengths of light to form the rich tapestry of colors we experience.