Comparing color qualia structures through a novel similarity task in young children versus adults

The color similarity judgments of young children differ systematically from those of adults, revealing that the structure of color qualia—the subjective experience of color—changes with development. In a novel task, children organized colors into fewer, broader categories than adults, suggesting that perceptual color space becomes more finely differentiated as we mature. These findings indicate that even basic sensory experiences like color are not fixed but shaped by cognitive development.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Comparing color qualia structures through a novel similarity task in young children versus adults