Sidney Bradford

Sidney Bradford (30 May 1906 – 2 August 1960) went blind at 10 months of age, but regained sight on both eyes after a cornea transplant at the age of 52. He was subjected to many scientific studies of vision by neuropsychologist Richard Gregory.[1]

After his operation he could see again, because he was blind from birth, Bradford did not perceive the ambiguity of the Necker cube, nor was he able to interpret the perspective of two-dimensional art.

Nevertheless, he could accurately judge the distance to objects in the same room, having been familiar with these distances before regaining sight by virtue of having walked them. In a similar analogy between vision and sightless (touch-only) experience, Bradford was able to visually read the time on the ward clock just after his operation.

Once sight was restored to his eyes it all became too much, Bradford became terrified of the sights that he could not, in many cases, understand. He could not recognise humans, or many items he had perceived only by touch.

Before surgery Bradford was a machinist, but even after being able to see again he preferred working with his eyes closed to identify tools. He died two years after his operation due to a prolonged period of ill health, with no specific cause of death noted.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ Recovery from Early Blindness (PDF) from Richard Gregory's website
  2. ↑ Bellows, Alan (2009). Alien Hand Syndrome: And Other Too-Weird-Not-To-Be-True Stories. Workman Publishing. pp. 209–212. ISBN 9780761152255.
  3. ↑ Pendergrast, Mark (2004). Mirror, Mirror: A History of the Human Love Affair With Reflection. Basic Books. p. 336. ISBN 9780465054718.
  4. ↑ "Health Check". 6 September 2010. BBC World Service. Missing or empty |series= (help)

External links

See also

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