When I was a kid, we used to play this game where we’d load up our NERF guns, shut off the lights and block the windows, and basically play a meatspace version of Counter-Strike.
I often seemed to have a competitive advantage against my friend. My eyes would adjust to the darkness more quickly than his. I had heard that eyes with brown irises (I have brown eyes, he has blue) adjust to changes in light levels more quickly, but it was one of those things — who knew whether it was actually true?
Well, guess what? It’s true.
Science. It works, bitches.
Fascinating. I wonder why this is the case. However, it *is* a small “n” and though it may be that the reflex is faster, that doesn’t necessarily mean that our cortices can adapt to the darker faster. Just sayin’.
Maria: Of course, you’re right. One study does not a theory (nor ever a proof) make. I too am curious as to the reason for these differences.