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Memory Color

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Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology

Synonyms

Canonical color; Diagnostic color; Typical color

Definition

A memory color is the color a beholder considers to be characteristic for an object based on their experience with that object. For example, the memory color of a banana is yellow for most people because they associate a banana with yellow in their memory.

Conceptual Clarifications

The concept of memory color should not be confused with color memory. Color memory is a general term that describes an observer’s ability to memorize a color. In contrast, a memory color is an association between a color and an object in memory (for review, see [1, 2]). The notion of memory color is strongly related to memory color effects, canonical and typical colors, and color diagnosticity; but a closer look reveals that there are also important differences.

Memory Color Effects

The term “memory color” is historically linked to the idea of a memory color effect (for review, see [2]). The term has been coined by Ewald Hering in 1878,...

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Christoph Witzel

  2. Department of Psychology, Giessen University, Giessen, Germany

    Karl Gegenfurtner

Authors
  1. Christoph Witzel
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  2. Karl Gegenfurtner
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Correspondence to Christoph Witzel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Color Science & Imaging Lab, North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Renzo Shamey

Section Editor information

  1. Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University College London, London, Please select, UK

    Lindsay MacDonald

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Witzel, C., Gegenfurtner, K. (2020). Memory Color. In: Shamey, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_58-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_58-9

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Memory Color
    Published:
    03 December 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_58-9

  2. Original

    Memory Color
    Published:
    29 September 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_58-8

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