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R L Gregory and J G Wallace
Reproduced from Experimental Psychology Society
Monograph No. 2 1963
Tobias cures his father's
blindness - Bernardo Strozzi 1581 - 1644
Foreword
Although it is nearly 300 years since Molyneux
posed his celebrated query, interest in the problem of recovery
of vision after early and long-standing blindness is of comparatively
recent origin. In 1932, Dr. M. von Senden carefully reviewed the
literature on the perception of space and shape in the congenitally
blind before and after operation and arrived at some important
conclusions. In particular, he stressed the slow, laborious and
imperfect way in which the perception of form is acquired by these
patients and their liability to emotional "crises" as
they come to discover the true extent of their disability as sighted
persons. Unfortunately, Dr. von Senden’s monograph remained little
known to psychologists, at all events in this country, and it
was not until 1949, when Dr. Donald Hebb published his fascinating
book on The Organisation of Behavior, that its significance
came to be at all widely appreciated. As every psychologist knows,
Dr. Hebb placed considerable weight on Herr von Senden’s evidence
and believed it to throw important light on the nature of visual
perception and its development in infancy. Although there is disagreement
regarding the interpretation of this evidence, there can be no
doubt as to the fresh and stimulating influence which Dr. Hebb’s
ideas have had upon contemporary psychological thought.
One of the main obstacles to informed discussion
of Dr. Hebb’s theories has been the inaccessibility of the clinical
evidence. This, it is true, has been remedied to some extent by
the publication, in 1960, of an English translation of Dr. von
Senden’s monograph but even so the position is far from satisfactory.
It was never the author’s intention to assemble detailed case
reports and it is not always easy to distinguish between the facts
as recorded by others and the interpretation which Dr. von Senden
has placed upon them. If for only this reason, the addition of
a fresh and well-studied case to the widely dispersed literature
will be warmly welcomed.
The authors of this monograph have provided a
full description of the history and progress of a man, effectively
blind almost from birth, who underwent two operations for corneal
grafting at the age of 52, as a result of which he recovered appreciable
sight. As they relate, their attention was first drawn to the
case by a newspaper report and it is to their great credit that
they followed the matter up. With characteristic enterprise, Mr.
Richard Gregory made an approach to the Ophthalmic Surgeon in
charge of the case, A. Hirtenstein, Esq., F.R.C.S., of the Wolverhampton
and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary, who responded with warm friendliness
and generosity. Indeed it is entirely due to his kind permission
to study the case and to his encouragement throughout that the
work reported in this monograph could be undertaken.
This case study will be of interest to many.
To the psychologist, perhaps the most arresting finding is the
extent of "transfer" of information from touch to vision
which the authors have been able to demonstrate. They point out,
too, that much of their patient’s difficulty in visual learning
can be ascribed to his long-standing reliance on touch and the
whole complex of well-engrained habits to which it had given rise.
This leads them, in my view rightly, to suggest that great caution
should be exercised in drawing parallels between the recovery
of vision after operation in adults and the normal development
of perception in young children.
The authors would be the last to claim any particular
expertise in clinical inquiry. Nevertheless, readers will be impressed
by their resourcefulness and determination to proceed wherever
possible by the method of experiment. In spite of limited experience,
they carried their study through in a manner entitled to warm
admiration and respect. Although it is always risky to generalise
from a single case, their work undoubtedly serves to throw light
on important issues in the development of perception and the cross-modal
"transfer" of information. They have presented their
case with modesty, skill and warm humanity.
O. L. ZANGWILL.
Preface
We would like particularly to thank Mr. A. Hirtenstein,
F.R.C.S.,the ophthalmic surgeon under whose care the patient was
admitted to the Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary,
for his kind permission to study and investigate the case and
for his most helpful advice and criticism. Without his co-operation
and help this study would not have been undertaken. The staff
of the hospital were most helpful, in particular the Matron, Miss
Mary Jones.
Through the generosity of the Daily Express,
we were able to study the patient for several days immediately
after his discharge from hospital. Mr. Merrick Winn, the writer,
was most helpful with his insightful comments and suggestions.
We would like to thank the patient’s wife for
her help and comments on many aspects of her husband’s life before
and after the operation. His sister also provided vital evidence
as to his early vision. The Birmingham Royal Institution for the
Blind have kindly given permission to publish the case records
covering the period the patient attended the Institution.
We are sincerely grateful to Mr. Hirtenstein
and Herr M. von Senden for their kind permission to publish correspondence
bearing on this case.
Professor D. O. Hebb kindly read the manuscript
in draft and we are grateful to him for many valuable comments.
It should be said, however, that we alone are responsible for
the interpretation placed upon the case. Since completing our
study, we have gained much from discussion with Dr. B. R. Gomulicki.
We would especially like to thank Miss Kathleen
Watts for her help in preparing the manuscript for the press.
Professor O. L. Zangwill gave most helpful advice
and encouragement during the investigation and in the writing
of this monograph. We are much indebted to him.
The patient was studied by us jointly, much of
the detailed testing being carried out by the junior author. We
were both present on all occasions, so that all the observations
reported in this monograph have been confirmed by at least two
witnesses. The actual writing from our combined notes, is the
responsibility of the senior author. One of us (J.G.W.) was supported
by a grant from the Medical Research Council, who also kindly
provided a small grant for expenses. We gladly acknowledge their
assistance.
We wish to thank the publishers, D. van Nostrand
Company, Inc., for permission to reproduce Figure 8 from Beardslee
and Wertheiner’s Readings in Perception, Copyright 1958,
D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, N.J.
R.L.G.
J.G.W.
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Contents
To Introduction
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