In visual perception, what does the term 'afterimage' refer to?

The term 'afterimage' refers specifically to a visual sensation that continues to be perceived after the original stimulus is no longer present. This phenomenon occurs typically when one stares at an object for an extended period and then looks away or closes their eyes. The retina, having adapted to the initial stimulus, continues to send signals to the brain that manifest as a lingering image. Often, this afterimage can be complementary in color to the original stimulus, highlighting the unique processes of adaptation and perception in visual processing.

Understanding afterimages involves recognizing how our visual system reacts to sustained exposure to certain stimuli, which is foundational in the study of perception in psychology. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what an afterimage is. For example, distortion in low light conditions or the mixing of colors pertains to different perceptual experiences, while movement perception in static images relates to motion perception rather than the persistence of visual sensations.