What is the name of the visual receptors that are responsible for processing color?

The visual receptors responsible for processing color are known as cones. Cones are photoreceptor cells located in the retina of the eye and are essential for color vision and visual acuity in bright light conditions. They function optimally in well-lit environments and are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, which allows humans to perceive a wide spectrum of colors.

Each type of cone is sensitive to different segments of the color spectrum—typically red, green, and blue—which collectively enable the perception of a full range of colors through a process called trichromatic color vision. This is fundamental to how we experience the world visually.

In contrast, rods are another type of photoreceptor that are more sensitive to low light levels but do not contribute to color vision; they are responsible for black-and-white vision. Bipolar cells and ganglion cells are part of the neural processing system in the retina that transmit signals from the photoreceptors to the brain but do not process color themselves. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific role of cones in color detection and perception.