How do octopi know what color to change to when using camoflauge?

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I understand what processes take place to make the octopus change color.
I also understand their eyes play a major factor.

INDEED

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But, I do not understand how it knows what color to change to,
especially when they change to a color they have never seen.
What is this action called?

Note that the gender of octopusses
is limited to male or female, not to neuter gender,
hence: logic constrains us to use "he" or "she".





David

An octopus's camouflage is aided by certain specialized skin cells which can change the apparent color, opacity, and reflectiveness of the epidermis. Chromatophores contain yellow, orange, red, brown, or black pigments; most species have three of these colors, while some have two or four. Other color-changing cells are reflective iridophores, and leucophores (white).[16] This color-changing ability can also be used to communicate with or warn other octopuses. The very venomous blue-ringed octopus becomes bright yellow with blue rings when it is provoked. Octopuses can use muscles in the skin to change the texture of their mantle in order to achieve a greater camouflage. In some species the mantle can take on the spiky appearance of seaweed, or the scraggly, bumpy texture of a rock, among other disguises. However in some species skin anatomy is limited to relatively patternless shades of one color, and limited skin texture.