#Derval Color Test

[skypalacearchitect]

Original post on LinkedIn actually says

"You see more than 39 color nuances: come on, you are making up things! there are only 39 different colors in the test, how come? In fact you respond more to contrast than to colors and that is why you count more than 39 :)"

which is interesting. yeah, there were multiple sections where I thought "are there two colors here and I can't see the difference?" Nope! Tricky...

25% of the people have a 4th cone and see colors as they are

Given the sudden interest for the color of dresses and vision, here some of the fascinating findings we did recently.

The color nuances we see depend on the number and distribution of cones (=color receptors) in our eye. You can check this rainbow: how many color nuances do you count?

You see less than 20 color nuances: you are a dichromats, like dogs, which means you have 2 types of cones only. You are likely to wear black, beige, and blue. 25% of the population is dichromat.

You see between 20 and 32 color nuances: you are a trichromat, you have 3 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green and red area). You enjoy different colors as you can appreciate them. 50% of the population is trichromat.

You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. 25% of the population is tetrachromat.

You see more than 39 color nuances: come on, you are making up things! there are only 39 different colors in the test and probably only 35 are properly translated by your computer screen anyway :)

It is highly probable that people who have an additional 4th cone do not get tricked by blue/black or white/gold dresses, no matter the background light ;)

(x)

[supremecodemagenemica]

Oh my god, the human tetracromacy bullshit test is going around again. The source is a LinkedIn post written by a marketing person. Even if doing a color test on  non-normed screen worked, the whole tetracromacy thing is a lot more complicated. I mean check out the sources on Wikipedia (foot notes 20-25). Science is flipping its shit about one true tetracromat already.

Also check out Snopes, who have done some sourcing and researching.

And last but not least, do yourself the favor and google this “Derval Color Test.” You will find nothing but gullible posts about how You Too Might Have Super Vision, one guy who wrote an unsourced debunk post and the Snopes page.

[mistressofallthingsgeeky]

So, this is Diana Derval's tetrachromatic vision spectrum test. If you see 32 to 39 colors, you're a tetrachromat. I saw 36. Explains why I hate how I look in yellow.

[dive-into-marketing]

Makes you look at sensory preferences in a new way This fascinating book made me look at sensory preferences in a whole new light. Traditional teaching in regard to scent is that people associate emotions from their experiences with a scent and that is the basis for preference. But it doesn't explain whole groups of preferences (like why I don't like florals, when I've had plenty of good experiences with flowers). This book does, and further, it translates these sensory preferences into consumer behavior in regard to products which is amazing. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it was hard to make predictions on how a specific individual would perceive across the senses, given a particular hormonal mix. A table showing colors, smells, sounds, tastes and textures a estrogen, balanced, testosterone (light) and testosterone (heavy) person would prefer and avoid would be invaluable. Go to Amazon

A real page-turner! I started following Prof Derval's research years ago, with increasing interest. As a former student in both Life Sciences and Marketing, I couldn't fail to be attracted by her approach on a professional level. Moreover, her research was of ever renewed relevance in explaining "phenomenons" that I used to discard as "it's just the way it is" : I was tested by Pr Derval as testosterone-driven, a super-taster, and a super-amplifier, which shed a new light on many aspects of my sensory approach to the world (a real hatred for coffee when, as a consultant, I was offered a cuppa every hour or so... Seeing shades of colors that nobody else seemed to see (no it's not green, it's turquoise blue !) and so on and so forth). Being myself very interested in research on immune disorders, Pr Derval's approach apppears to me as a path that should be followed in detecting a likelihood in individuals to present immune system hiccups - her "predictions" using the Hormonal Quotient indeed pointed at several of my friends who had known or unknown (but later discovered) major immune disorders (such as asthma and pregnancy auto-immune issues). Go to Amazon

social scientist This book is written for marketing professionals who need to design innovative products and services efficiently. And I want also the non-marketing people to read it, since it tells the neurological mechanism of sensory perceptions. Go to Amazon

An inspiring book This is a very inspiring book. It's interesting and easy to follow even for people who has zero experience in marketing. All examples are engaging and convincing. This book talks about how to attract consumers and predict consumers' behaviors based on real science, not just simple statistics. This a great book for everyone who is interested in marketing strategies, especially people who want to advertise and push new products to the market. Go to Amazon

Do not ignore the usefulness of neuromarketing on marketing practices "Diana Derval writes, teaches and speaks about the use of neuroscience research on marketing practices. The text is beautifully written. The book presents a complete picture of how the senses help to understand people's wants. The book is relevant for marketing professionals to update their knowledge and acquire powerful new marketing methods. This book is highly recommended for beginners to experienced marketing professionals working with big or small companies. It can also be a great gift for the curious minded." Go to Amazon

Brilliant linkage between hormones and marketing. Five golden stars! "The Right Sensory Mix" takes the concepts of genetics and neuroendocrinology and applies them to predict consumer behavior. The text is intellectually brilliant and delightful. Read the book and you will want to adapt Prof. Derval's model because the book discloses in detail how sensory networks and the Hormonal QuotientTM help predict consumer's attitudes and behavior, the data obtained from her own scientific approach, to how the technique works as exemplified by well known commercial brands. Magda Carvalho, PhD, Patent Attorney. Go to Amazon

Nurture is as important as nature Despite an endorsement by Kotler and money to charity, I can't recommend this book. The central premise is questionable and the story incoherent. While there are some great practical tips here, the overall message is not clear and supported by limited evidence. Go to Amazon

[dive-into-marketing]

Makes you look at sensory preferences in a new way This fascinating book made me look at sensory preferences in a whole new light. Traditional teaching in regard to scent is that people associate emotions from their experiences with a scent and that is the basis for preference. But it doesn't explain whole groups of preferences (like why I don't like florals, when I've had plenty of good experiences with flowers). This book does, and further, it translates these sensory preferences into consumer behavior in regard to products which is amazing. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it was hard to make predictions on how a specific individual would perceive across the senses, given a particular hormonal mix. A table showing colors, smells, sounds, tastes and textures a estrogen, balanced, testosterone (light) and testosterone (heavy) person would prefer and avoid would be invaluable. Go to Amazon

A real page-turner! I started following Prof Derval's research years ago, with increasing interest. As a former student in both Life Sciences and Marketing, I couldn't fail to be attracted by her approach on a professional level. Moreover, her research was of ever renewed relevance in explaining "phenomenons" that I used to discard as "it's just the way it is" : I was tested by Pr Derval as testosterone-driven, a super-taster, and a super-amplifier, which shed a new light on many aspects of my sensory approach to the world (a real hatred for coffee when, as a consultant, I was offered a cuppa every hour or so... Seeing shades of colors that nobody else seemed to see (no it's not green, it's turquoise blue !) and so on and so forth). Being myself very interested in research on immune disorders, Pr Derval's approach apppears to me as a path that should be followed in detecting a likelihood in individuals to present immune system hiccups - her "predictions" using the Hormonal Quotient indeed pointed at several of my friends who had known or unknown (but later discovered) major immune disorders (such as asthma and pregnancy auto-immune issues). Go to Amazon

social scientist This book is written for marketing professionals who need to design innovative products and services efficiently. And I want also the non-marketing people to read it, since it tells the neurological mechanism of sensory perceptions. Go to Amazon

An inspiring book This is a very inspiring book. It's interesting and easy to follow even for people who has zero experience in marketing. All examples are engaging and convincing. This book talks about how to attract consumers and predict consumers' behaviors based on real science, not just simple statistics. This a great book for everyone who is interested in marketing strategies, especially people who want to advertise and push new products to the market. Go to Amazon

Do not ignore the usefulness of neuromarketing on marketing practices "Diana Derval writes, teaches and speaks about the use of neuroscience research on marketing practices. The text is beautifully written. The book presents a complete picture of how the senses help to understand people's wants. The book is relevant for marketing professionals to update their knowledge and acquire powerful new marketing methods. This book is highly recommended for beginners to experienced marketing professionals working with big or small companies. It can also be a great gift for the curious minded." Go to Amazon

Brilliant linkage between hormones and marketing. Five golden stars! "The Right Sensory Mix" takes the concepts of genetics and neuroendocrinology and applies them to predict consumer behavior. The text is intellectually brilliant and delightful. Read the book and you will want to adapt Prof. Derval's model because the book discloses in detail how sensory networks and the Hormonal QuotientTM help predict consumer's attitudes and behavior, the data obtained from her own scientific approach, to how the technique works as exemplified by well known commercial brands. Magda Carvalho, PhD, Patent Attorney. Go to Amazon

Nurture is as important as nature Despite an endorsement by Kotler and money to charity, I can't recommend this book. The central premise is questionable and the story incoherent. While there are some great practical tips here, the overall message is not clear and supported by limited evidence. Go to Amazon

[dive-into-marketing]

Makes you look at sensory preferences in a new way This fascinating book made me look at sensory preferences in a whole new light. Traditional teaching in regard to scent is that people associate emotions from their experiences with a scent and that is the basis for preference. But it doesn't explain whole groups of preferences (like why I don't like florals, when I've had plenty of good experiences with flowers). This book does, and further, it translates these sensory preferences into consumer behavior in regard to products which is amazing. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it was hard to make predictions on how a specific individual would perceive across the senses, given a particular hormonal mix. A table showing colors, smells, sounds, tastes and textures a estrogen, balanced, testosterone (light) and testosterone (heavy) person would prefer and avoid would be invaluable. Go to Amazon

A real page-turner! I started following Prof Derval's research years ago, with increasing interest. As a former student in both Life Sciences and Marketing, I couldn't fail to be attracted by her approach on a professional level. Moreover, her research was of ever renewed relevance in explaining "phenomenons" that I used to discard as "it's just the way it is" : I was tested by Pr Derval as testosterone-driven, a super-taster, and a super-amplifier, which shed a new light on many aspects of my sensory approach to the world (a real hatred for coffee when, as a consultant, I was offered a cuppa every hour or so... Seeing shades of colors that nobody else seemed to see (no it's not green, it's turquoise blue !) and so on and so forth). Being myself very interested in research on immune disorders, Pr Derval's approach apppears to me as a path that should be followed in detecting a likelihood in individuals to present immune system hiccups - her "predictions" using the Hormonal Quotient indeed pointed at several of my friends who had known or unknown (but later discovered) major immune disorders (such as asthma and pregnancy auto-immune issues). Go to Amazon

social scientist This book is written for marketing professionals who need to design innovative products and services efficiently. And I want also the non-marketing people to read it, since it tells the neurological mechanism of sensory perceptions. Go to Amazon

An inspiring book This is a very inspiring book. It's interesting and easy to follow even for people who has zero experience in marketing. All examples are engaging and convincing. This book talks about how to attract consumers and predict consumers' behaviors based on real science, not just simple statistics. This a great book for everyone who is interested in marketing strategies, especially people who want to advertise and push new products to the market. Go to Amazon

Do not ignore the usefulness of neuromarketing on marketing practices "Diana Derval writes, teaches and speaks about the use of neuroscience research on marketing practices. The text is beautifully written. The book presents a complete picture of how the senses help to understand people's wants. The book is relevant for marketing professionals to update their knowledge and acquire powerful new marketing methods. This book is highly recommended for beginners to experienced marketing professionals working with big or small companies. It can also be a great gift for the curious minded." Go to Amazon

Brilliant linkage between hormones and marketing. Five golden stars! "The Right Sensory Mix" takes the concepts of genetics and neuroendocrinology and applies them to predict consumer behavior. The text is intellectually brilliant and delightful. Read the book and you will want to adapt Prof. Derval's model because the book discloses in detail how sensory networks and the Hormonal QuotientTM help predict consumer's attitudes and behavior, the data obtained from her own scientific approach, to how the technique works as exemplified by well known commercial brands. Magda Carvalho, PhD, Patent Attorney. Go to Amazon

Nurture is as important as nature Despite an endorsement by Kotler and money to charity, I can't recommend this book. The central premise is questionable and the story incoherent. While there are some great practical tips here, the overall message is not clear and supported by limited evidence. Go to Amazon

[catgirlthecrazy]

So I'm hardly an expert on vision, but a few things about this tripped my bullshit-alarm.

the source for all of this is a post on someone's LinkedIn page

the author of the post, Diana Derval, describes herself first and foremost as "Chief Investigator at DervalResearch"

the specific test discussed in this post is called the "Derval Color Test"

The only source cited in the post is a book written by, you guessed it, Diana Derval

The smallest amount of digging reveals more red flags. This person makes a point of styling herself "Prof. Diana Derval, PhD," but she does not state what academic institution she's associated with. The only professor jobs listed on her LinkedIn page appear to be teaching positions only, not research based at all. Furthermore, her academic credentials are all business and marketing related, not biology or medicine. The website for her company says that it's some kind of biomedical research company, but there's no indication that anyone actually works for this company other than Diana Derval, much less any actual qualified scientists. The company appears to be a vehicle for self promotion more than anything else.

TL;DR: The person behind this test is CLEARLY a professional bullshit peddler, so the test itself is almost certainly pseudoscientific nonsense.

Ok, but enough about that. I'm sure the question you're really dying to know the answer to is: is super human color vision an actual thing I could have (and how would I know)?

The short answer: yes tetrachromacy is an actual thing, but no, you probably don't have it (make that "almost definitely don't" if you're AMAB). Even if you do have it, there isn't a good way to find out for sure that's accessible to most people.

The long answer, derived from an afternoon of googling (sources linked at the bottom): the linkedin post is basically correct that the quality of your color vision depends on how many cones you have, and that most humans have three types at the most. It's also correct that some people have a fourth cone type, and that this extra cone can give them enhanced color vision. Emphasis on 'can:' even if you've got that extra cone, that doesn't mean it actually works correctly, or that the wiring needed to send that extra color information to the brain is in place, or that your brain knows how to interpret that information when it comes in.

Another thing the article neglects to mention: tetrachromacy is sex-linked. Only people with two X chromosomes can have tetrachromacy; XY people get colorblindness instead. The reason for this is that the genes telling your body how to make the cones that see red and green are on the X chromosome. If you have the right kind of "typos" on one of those genes, though, your body might end up making a fully functional cone that 'sees' a different (less useful) part of the color spectrum. If you don't have a second X chromosome with correct copies of those genes, though, you'll be missing either your green cones or your red cones, and you'll have some kind of red/green colorblindness. But if you do have a second X chromosome without that mutation, then congratulations! You get to have four types of cones, and may have tetrachromacy.

As for how common tetrachromacy is, the answer is "pretty damn uncommon." According to the Tetrachromacy Project at Newcastle University, only 12% of XX people even have the right genetic anomaly needed to develop that 4th cone. We're not sure what percentage of those people end up having tetrachromacy, but the evidence suggests it's not many. A 2010 study of 24 people with this extra-cone gene found that most didn't do better on a color differentiation test than the control group. In fact, only one person in the whole study did consistently well enough on all the color-differentiation tests for the authors to be willing to say "yeah, this person is definitely a tetrachromat."

As for how to tell if you are a tetrachromat, I'm sorry to say that any test you can take online is probably pseudoscientific bullshit. According to the Tetrachromacy Project FAQ page:

Unfortunately, computer screens do not provide enough colour information to be able to ‘tap into’ the extra dimension that tetrachromats may possess. It is therefore impossible for an online test to investigate tetrachromacy.

If you're AFAB with a family history of color-blindness among your AMAB relatives (the best predictor of tetrachromacy), and you're willing to travel to Newcastle University on your own dime, then the Tetrachromacy Project might let you take their test in person. That's the only really reliable method of testing that my afternoon of googling was able to discover.

Edit: removed a stray sentence fragment, tweaked the wording here and there to add clarity

Sources:

The Tetrachromacy Project

Gabriele Jordan, Samir S. Deeb, Jenny M. Bosten, J. D. Mollon; The dimensionality of color vision in carriers of anomalous trichromacy. Journal of Vision 2010;10(8):12. https://doi.org/10.1167/10.8.12

Tetrachromacy (‘Super Vision’)

25% of the people have a 4th cone and see colors as they are

Given the sudden interest for the color of dresses and vision, here some of the fascinating findings we did recently.

The color nuances we see depend on the number and distribution of cones (=color receptors) in our eye. You can check this rainbow: how many color nuances do you count?

You see less than 20 color nuances: you are a dichromats, like dogs, which means you have 2 types of cones only. You are likely to wear black, beige, and blue. 25% of the population is dichromat.

You see between 20 and 32 color nuances: you are a trichromat, you have 3 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green and red area). You enjoy different colors as you can appreciate them. 50% of the population is trichromat.

You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. 25% of the population is tetrachromat.

You see more than 39 color nuances: come on, you are making up things! there are only 39 different colors in the test and probably only 35 are properly translated by your computer screen anyway :)

It is highly probable that people who have an additional 4th cone do not get tricked by blue/black or white/gold dresses, no matter the background light ;)

(x)

[xanderwithanx]

Okay, Professor Diana Derval is a prominent "NeuroMarketer". She's a legitimate and accredited neuroscientist, who "decodes human behavior and preferences" for marketing purposes. I'm not challenging her credentials at all! Just this test.

The test claims to determine if you're a techrachromatic, if you have 4 cones in your eye to determine color. However, it is delivered through computer or phone screens, which only use RGB, only 3 cones. This means that your computer or phone is unable to show you 4 cones of color. Because of screens using RGB, this test is physically unable to tell if you are a tetrachromat. If I'm wrong, I'd be happy for a correction.

I think it's important to note that this test originated on Derval's LinkedIn page. I do not think this specific test has been studied outside of her own research.

Derval is a legitimate expert in her field. However, her focus on biologically-based marketing likely explains her claim about yellow clothing. I believe her claim about yellow's unpopularity is based on marketing research.

As well, the color spectrum you see here, in the tumblr screen-cap, is distorted when compared to the expanded color spectrum on the LinkedIn page. It seems like the screen-cap, which I used to test my own color vision, muddies her original color scale.

Finally, most vision researchers challenge her 25% claim, placing the actual number much lower. I do not believe this has been studied in great depth, so I assume her 25% claim comes from her own research with this (possibly troubled) test.

TLDR: Your screen uses 3 cones, RGB, so this test is unable to determine if you are a tetrachromat (4 cones of vision).

25% of the people have a 4th cone and see colors as they are

Given the sudden interest for the color of dresses and vision, here some of the fascinating findings we did recently.

The color nuances we see depend on the number and distribution of cones (=color receptors) in our eye. You can check this rainbow: how many color nuances do you count?

You see less than 20 color nuances: you are a dichromats, like dogs, which means you have 2 types of cones only. You are likely to wear black, beige, and blue. 25% of the population is dichromat.

You see between 20 and 32 color nuances: you are a trichromat, you have 3 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green and red area). You enjoy different colors as you can appreciate them. 50% of the population is trichromat.

You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. 25% of the population is tetrachromat.

You see more than 39 color nuances: come on, you are making up things! there are only 39 different colors in the test and probably only 35 are properly translated by your computer screen anyway :)

It is highly probable that people who have an additional 4th cone do not get tricked by blue/black or white/gold dresses, no matter the background light ;)

(x)

[pleasespellchimerical]

HEY Y’ALL THIS IS BULLSHIT.

This graphic and ‘test’ come from a woman named Diana Derval, who claims to be an expert in ‘neuromarketing’. (I have no idea what that is). She pedals a lot of pseudoscience, but this color thing is the one that seems to have taken off the most.

You see less than 20 color nuances: you are a dichromats, like dogs, which means you have 2 types of cones only. You are likely to wear black, beige, and blue. 25% of the population is dichromat.

She’s using ‘dichromacy’ to refer to human color blindness. Color blindness results from problems in the cone cells. There are three types of cones in the human eye, and colorblindness can be caused by issues in one, two, or all three types of cone cells. Using the word ‘dicromacy’ to refer to color blindness is inaccurate. 

Nowhere near 25% of the human population is color blind. The highest instance of color blindness is in males of northern European decent, where it can affect up to 8% of this demographic.

You see between 20 and 32 color nuances: you are a trichromat, you have 3 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green and red area). You enjoy different colors as you can appreciate them. 50% of the population is trichromat.

The vast majority of the human population has trichromatic color vision. We’re not talking 50% here--we’re talking probably 97-99%. The three types of human cone cells are sensitive to blue, green, and red light (Purple light is not a thing; purple is a sensation caused by the mixing of blue and red light). 

You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. 25% of the population is tetrachromat.

Nope. A) Bees are trichromatic* (UV, blue, and green), B) tetrachromacy tentatively does exist in humans, but it’s rare. The idea that humans could be tetrachromatic was posited in the 1940s, but it was only in 2010 that a study managed to find a subject whose vision matched with this hypothesis.

*I study bee color vision. Don’t at me.

Color vision is a sex linked trait--which is why men are much more likely to be color blind. The original tetrachromacy hypothesis posited that a daughter of a male who is color blind could inherit both normal cone photoreceptors from her mother, and an addition mutant cone receptor from her father. This would only be possible in females, given that two X chromosomes (one with normal photopigment genes, and one with mutant photopigment genes) need to be present.

Studies into this area are recent. A researcher from Newcastle University (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/tetrachromacy/thescience/) identified one subject during studies that showed signs of tetrachromacy in color matching testing. More studies need to be conducted and reviewed.

TL;DR: This test is bullshit. The information and statistics Diana Derval provides are nonsense. Due to limitations and variations in a computer screen, this graphic (or any online graphic) cannot test for tetrachromacy. You are likely not tetrachromatic.

References:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/people-4th-retinal-cone/

https://research.ncl.ac.uk/tetrachromacy/

https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-humans-with-super-human-vision

25% of the people have a 4th cone and see colors as they are

Given the sudden interest for the color of dresses and vision, here some of the fascinating findings we did recently.

The color nuances we see depend on the number and distribution of cones (=color receptors) in our eye. You can check this rainbow: how many color nuances do you count?

You see less than 20 color nuances: you are a dichromats, like dogs, which means you have 2 types of cones only. You are likely to wear black, beige, and blue. 25% of the population is dichromat.

You see between 20 and 32 color nuances: you are a trichromat, you have 3 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green and red area). You enjoy different colors as you can appreciate them. 50% of the population is trichromat.

You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. 25% of the population is tetrachromat.

You see more than 39 color nuances: come on, you are making up things! there are only 39 different colors in the test and probably only 35 are properly translated by your computer screen anyway :)

It is highly probable that people who have an additional 4th cone do not get tricked by blue/black or white/gold dresses, no matter the background light ;)

(x)