,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #a
      ~c ,copy"r 0,oliv] ,sacks4
  ,? is an extract f an >ticle f/ 
       publi%$ 9 ,! ,new ,york]1
          ,= m details1 visit
        _+www.oliversacks.com_:

    .,s5se .,& .,s5sibil;y
  8,to 2come bl repres5ts "o )a pot5ti,y
ov]:elm+ *all5ge3 6f9d a new way ( liv+1
( ord]+ "o's _w1 :5 ! old way has be5 
de/roy$' ,d we 3trol \r bra9s or d \r 
bra9s 3trol u8
  ,oliv] ,sacks1 ! au?or & neurologi/1 
describes h[ ! exp]i;es ( bl p provide a
fasc9at+ 9si<t 96! nature ( 3sci\s;s4

  ,9 ! la/ lr he wrote1 ,goe! obs]v$3 
8,! ,anci5ts sd t ! animals >e tau<t "? 
_! organs2 let me add 6?1 s >e m51 b !y
h ! advantage ( t1*+ _! organs 9 
return40 ,he wrote ? 9 #ahcb1 a "t :5 
phr5ology 0 at xs hei<t1 &! bra9 0 se5 z
a mosaic ( 8ll organs0 subs]v+ "ey?+ f 
language 6draw+ abil;y 6%y;s4 ,ea* 9div-         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #b
idual1 x 0 2liev$1 0 giv5 a fix$ m1sure 
( ? or t faculty1 ac 6! luck ( 8 bir?4
  ,al? we no l;g] pay att5;n1 z ! 
phr5ologi/s did1 to 8bumps0 on ! h1d 
7ea* ( :1 suppos$ly1 9dicat$ a bra9-m9d
organ 2n71 neurology a & neurosci;e h 
/ay$ close 6! idea ( bra9 fix;y & 
localis,n--! no;n1 9 "picul>1 t ! hi<e/
"p (! bra91 ! c]ebral cortex1 is 
e6ectively programm$ f bir?3 ? "p 6vi.n
& visual process+1 t "p 6he>+1 t 6t\*1 &
s on4 ,? wd seem 6all[ 9dividuals ll p[]
( *oice1 ( self-det]m9,n1 let al"o ( 
adapt,n1 9 ! ev5t (a neurological or 
p]ceptual mishap4
  ,b 6:at ext5t >e we--\r exp]i;es1 \r 
reac;ns--%ap$1 predet]m9$1 0\r bra9s1 &
6:at ext5t d we %ape \r [n bra9s8 ,does 
! m9d run ! bra9 or ! bra9 run ! m9d--
or1 r1 6:at ext5t does "o run ! o!r8 
,6:at ext5t >e we ! au?ors1 ! cr1tors1 (
\r [n exp]i;es8 ,! e6ects ( e6ects ( 
prof.d bl;s c ca/ an unexpect$ li<t on 
?4 ,62come bl1 especi,y 9 lat] life1          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #c
pres5ts "o )a huge1 pot5ti,y ov]:elm+ 
*all5ge3 6f9d a new way ( liv+1 ( ord]+ 
"o's _w1 :5 ! old way has be5 de/roy$4
  ,a ,,doz5 ,,ye>s ago1 ,i 0 s5t an 
extraord9>y book call$ ,t\*+ ! ,rock3
,an ,exp]i;e ( ,bl;s4 ,! au?or1 ,john
,hull1 0 a professor ( religi\s $uc,n
:o _h gr[n up 9 ,au/ralia & !n mov$ 
6,5gl&4 ,hull _h develop$ cat>acts at 
! age ( #ac1 & 2came bl 9 8 left eye 
f\r ye>s lat]4 ,vi.n 9 8 "r eye rema9$
r1sona# until he 0 #ce or s1 & !n x />t$
6det]iorate4 ,"! foll[$ a decade ( 
/1dily fail+ vi.n1 until1 9 #aihc1 at ! 
age ( #dh1 he 2came -pletely bl4
  ,t\*+ ! ,rock is ! j\rnal he dictat$ 9
! ?ree ye>s t foll[$4 ,x is full ( pi]c+
9si<ts relat+ 6,hull's life z a bl 
p]son1 b mo/ /rik+ = me is ,hull's 
descrip;n ( h[ he exp]i;ed a gradual 
att5u,n ( visual imagery & memory1 & 
f9,y a virtual ext9c;n ( !m 7except 9 
dr1ms7--a /ate t he call$ 8deep bl;s04
  ,0?1 ,hull m1nt n only ! loss ( visual
images & memories1 b a loss (! v idea (         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #d
see+1 s t ev5 ! s5se ( objects hav+ 
8appe>.es01 visi# "*i/ics1 vani%$4 ,he 
cd no l;g]1 = example1 imag9e h[ ! 
num]al #c look$ un.s he trac$ x 9 ! air
) 8 h&4 ,he cd 3/ruct 8motor0 image (a 
#c1 b n a visual "o4 ,?\< at f/ grtly 
4tress$ ab ! fad+ ( visual memories & 
images1 ,hull came 6a3ept x ) rem>ka# 
equanim;y4 ,he seem$ 6reg>d ? loss ( 
visual imagery z a prerequisite =! 
full develop;t1 ! hei<t5+1 ( 8 o!r 
s5ses4
  ,two ye>s af 2com+ -pletely bl1 ,hull
_h app>5tly 2come s non-visual z 6resem#
"s"o :o _h be5 bl f bir?4 ,9 a prof.dly
religi\s way1 & 9 language "s"ts 
rem9isc5t ( t ( ,st4 ,john (! ,cross1 
,hull has 5t]$ 96? /ate1 surr5d]$ hmf )a
sort ( acquiesc;e & joy4 ,& s* 8deep0 
bl;s he 3cvs z 8an au!ntic & autonom\s 
_w1 a place ( xs [n '''4 ,2+ a :ole-body
se] is 6be 9 "o (! 3c5trat$ human 
3di;ns40
  ,2+ a 8:ole-body se]01 = ,hull1 m1ns          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #e
%ift+ 8 att5;n1 8 c5tre ( grav;y1 6! o!r
s5ses1 & he writes ag & ag ( h[ ^! h 
assum$ a new ri*;s & p[]4 ,?us he sp1ks 
( h[ ! s.d ( ra9 c n[ del91te a :ole 
l&scape = hm1 = xs s.d on ! g>d5 pa? is
di6]5t f xs s.d z x drums on ! lawn1 or
on ! bu%es 9 8 g>d54 8,ra910 he writes1
8has a way ( br++ \ ! 3t\rs ( "ey?+2 x 
?r[s a col\r$ blanket ov] previ\sly 
9visi# ?+s2 9/1d (a frag;t$ _w1 ! /1dily
fall+ ra9 cr1tes 3t9u;y ( ac\/ic 
exp]i;e ''' pres5ts ! full;s ( an 5tire
situ,n all at once40
  ,hull -es 6feel an 9t5s;y ( 
2+-in-!-_w1 2y any?+ he knew :5 he 0 
si<t$4 ,bl;s n[ 2comes = hm 8a d>k1 
p>adoxical gift04 ,? is n j 8-p5s,n0 he
emphasises1 b a :ole new mode ( human
be+4
  ,x seem$ extraord9>y 6me t s* an 
annihil,n ( visual memory z ,hull 
describes cd happ5 6an adult1 ) an 5tire
life"t ( ri* & ri*ly categoris$ visual 
exp]i;e 6call ^u4 ,& yet ,i cd n d\bt !         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #f
au!ntic;y ( ,hull's a3.t1 : he relates 
)! mo/ scrupul\s c>e & lucid;y4
  ,important /udies ( adapt,n 9 ! bra9 7
2gun 9 ! #aigj's by1 am;g o!rs1 ,hel5 
,neville1 a cognitive neurosci5ti/ n[ 
"w+ 9 ,oregon4 ,%e %[$ t 9 prel+u,y d1f
p 7t is1 ^? :o _h be5 born d1f or 2come
d1f 2f ! age ( two or s7 ! auditory "ps
(! bra9 _h n deg5]at$ or atrophi$4 ,^! 
_h rema9$ active & func;nal1 b ) an 
activ;y &a func;n t 7 new3 !y _h be5 
trans=m$1 8reallocat$0 9 ,neville's t]m1
= process+ visual language4 ,-p>a# 
/udies 9 ^? born bl1 or e>ly bl9d$1 %[ t
! visual >1s (! cortex1 simil>ly1 may 2
reallocat$ 9 func;n1 & us$ 6process s.d
& t\*4
  ,)! realloc,n (! visual cortex 6t\* &
o!r s5ses1 ^! c take on a hyp]acu;y t 
p]h no si<t$ p]son c imag9e4 ,ge]at 
,v]meij1 a bl biologi/1 has be5 a# 
6del91te _m new species ( mollusc bas$ 
on t9y v>i,ns 9 ! %apes & 3t\rs ( _!
%ells4         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #g
  ,fac$ ) s* evid;e1 neurologi/s 2gan
63c$e t "! mi<t 2 a c]ta9 flexibil;y or
pla/ic;y 9 ! bra91 at l1/ 9 ! e>ly ye>s
( life4 ,b :5 ? critical p]iod 0 ov]1 x
0 assum$1 ! bra9 2came 9flexi#1 & no 
fur!r *anges (a radical type cd o3ur4 ,!
exp]i;es t ,hull s c>e;lly rec.ts give !
lie 6?4 ,x is cle> t 8 p]cep;ns1 8 bra91
did f9,y *ange1 9 a funda;tal way4 
,9de$1 ,alv>o ,pascual-,leone & 8 
coll1gues 9 ,bo/on h rec5tly %[n t1 ev5
9 adult si<t$ volunte]s1 z ll z five "ds
( 2+ blfold$ produces m>k$ %ifts 6non-
visual =ms ( 2havi\r & cogni;n1 & !y h 
demon/rat$ ! physiological *anges 9 ! 
bra9 t g al;g ) ?4
  ,! bra91 cle>ly1 is capa# ( *ang+ ev5
9 adulthood1 & ,i assum$ t ,hull's 
exp]i;e 0 typical ( acquir$ bl;s--! 
response1 soon] or lat]1 ( "ey"o :o 
2comes bl1 ev5 9 adult life4
  ,s :5 ,i came 6publi% an essay on 
,hull's book1 9 #aiia1 ,i 0 tak5 aback 
6rcv a numb] ( lrs f bl p1 lrs t 9 t"o 7         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #h
(t5 "s:at puzzl$1 & o3a.n,y 9dignant4 
,_m ( my correspon5ts1 cd n id5tify ) 
,hull's exp]i;e1 & sd t !y1 ev5 decades
af los+ _! si<t1 _h n"e lo/ _! visual 
images or memories4 ,"o correspond5t1 :o
_h lo/ h] si<t at #ae1 wrote1 8,ev5 ?\<
,i am tot,y bl ''' ,i 3sid] myf a v 
visual p]son4 ,i / ,8see0' objects 9 
front ( me4 ,z ,i am typ+ n[ ,i c see my
h&s on ! keybo>d '''4 ,i don't feel 
com=ta# 9 a new 5viron;t until ,i h 
m5tal picture ( xs appe>.e4 ,i ne$ a 
m5tal map = my 9dep5d5t mov+1 too40
  ,_h ,i be5 wr;g1 or at l1/ "o-sid$1 9
a3ept+ ,hull's exp]i;e z a typical 
response 6bl;s8 ,_h ,i be5 guilty ( 
emphasis+ ! mode ( response too /r;gly1
oblivi\s 6! possibilities ( radic,y 
di6]5t responses8
  ,? feel+ came 6a h1d 9 #aiif1 :5 ,i 
rcvd a lr f an ,au/ralian psy*ologi/ "nd
,zoltan ,torey4 ,torey wrote 6me n ab 
bl;s b ab ,! ,cruci# ( ,3sci\s;s1 : he 
_h writt5 on ! m9d/bra9 pro#m &! nature         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see         #i
( 3sci\s;s4 ,torey spoke ( h[ he _h be5
bl9d$ 9 an a3id5t at ! age ( #ba1 :ile 
"w+ at a *emical factory1 & h[1 al? 
8advis$ 6swit* f a visual 6an auditory 
mode ( adju/;t01 he _h mov$ 9 ! opposite
direc;n1 & resolv$ 6develop 9/1d 8 89n]
eye01 8 p[]s ( visual imagery1 6_! grte/
possi# ext5t4
  ,9 ?1 x seem$1 he _h be5 extremely 
su3ess;l1 develop+ a rem>ka# p[] ( 
g5]at+1 hold+1 & manipulat+ 8 m9d1 s m*
s t he _h be5 a# 63/ruct an imag9$ 
visual _w t seem$ alm z r1l & 9t5se 6hm
z ! p]ceptual "o he _h lo/--&1 9de$1 
"s"ts m r1l1 m 9t5se1 a sort ( 3troll$ 
dr1m or halluc9,n4 ,? imagery1 moreov]1
5a#d hm 6d ?+s t mi<t h seem$ sc>cely 
possi# =a bl man4
  8,i replac$ ! 5tire ro( gutt]+ ( my 
multi-ga#d home s+le-h&$10 he wrote1 8&
solely on ! /r5g? (! a3urate & well-
focus$ manipul,n ( my n[ tot,y plia# &
responsive m5tal space40 7,torey lat] 
exp&$ on ? episode1 m5;n+ ! grt al>m (         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #aj
8 nei<b\rs at see+ a bl man1 al"o1 on !
ro( ( 8 h\se--&1 ev5 m t]rify+ 6!m1 at
ni<t1 9 pit* d>k;s74
  ,torey 0 a# 6?9k 9 ways t _h n be5 
availa# 6hm 2f1 65visage solu;ns1 
models1 designs2 6project hmf 96! 9side
( ma*9es & o!r sy/ems1 &1 f9,y1 6grasp
0visual ?"\ & simul,n 7-ple;t$ 0all ! 
data ( neurosci;e7 ! -plexities ( t 
ultimate sy/em1 ! human bra9-m9d4
  ,9 8 new memoir1 ,\ ( ,d>k;s1 he 
explores h[ 8 life has be5 a6ect$ 0bl;s4
,torey's "f 0 ! h1d (a l>ge film /udio 9
,hung>y 2f ! w> & wd (t5 give 8 son 
scripts 6r1d4 8,?10 ,torey writes1 8gave
me ! opportun;y 6visualise /ories1 plots
& "*s1 6"w my imag9,n--a skill t 0 
62come a lifel9e & s\rce ( /r5g? 9 ! 
ye>s ah1d40 ,9 ,june1 #aiea1 loos5+ ! 
plug 9 a vat ( acid at ! *emical factory
": he "w$1 #bb-ye>-old ,torey _h ! 
a3id5t t bisect$ 8 life4 ,:5 x 2came 
cle> t he wd h 6live 8 life z a bl man1
he 0 advis$ 6rebuild 8 repres5t,n (! _w         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #aa
on ! basis ( he>+ & t\* & to 8=get ab 
si<t & visualis+ alt04 ,b ? 0 "s?+ t 
,torey cd n or wd n d4
  ,he emphasis$ 6me ! import.e (a mo/ 
critical *oice at ? juncture3 8,i immly
resolv$ 6f9d \ h[ f> a "pi,y s5se-
depriv$ bra9 cd g 6rebuild a life40 ,put
? way1 x s.ds ab/ract1 l an exp]i;t4 ,b
in 8 book "o s5ses ! trem5d\s feel+s 
"uly+ 8 resolu;n--! horror ( 8! empty 
d>k;s01 8! grey fog t 0 5gulf+ me -&! 
pas.nate desire 6hold on 6li<t & si<t1 
6ma9ta91 if only 9 memory & imag9,n1 a 
liv+ visual _w4
  ,john ,hull1 :o did n use 8 pot5tial =
imagery 9 a delib]ate way1 lo/ x 9 two 
or ?ree ye>s1 & 2came una# 6rememb] : 
way r.d a #c w5t2 ,torey1 on ! o!r h&1
soon 2came a# 6multiply f\r-figure 
numb]s 0ea* o!r1 z on a blackbo>d1 
visualis+ ! :ole op],n 9 8 m9d4
  ,torey ma9ta9$ a cauti\s & 8sci5tific0
attitude 6his [n visual imagery1 tak+ 
pa9s 6*eck ! a3uracy ( 8 images 0e m1ns         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ab
availa#4 8,i le>n$ 6hold ! image 9 a 
t5tative way1 3f]r+ cr$ibil;y & /atus on
x only ": "s 9=m,n wd tip ! bal.e 9 xs
fav\r4
  ,he 2came a# 86imag9e1 6visualise = 
example1 ! 9side (a di6]5tial ge>box 9 
ac;n--z if f 9side x's cas+4 ,i 0 a# 
6wat* ! cogs bite1 lock & revolve1 
4tribut+ ! sp9 z requir$4 ,i 2gan 6play
>.d ) ? 9t]nal view 9 3nec;n ) me*anical
& te*nical pro#ms visualis+ h[ 
subcompon5ts relate 9 ! atom1 or ! liv+
cell40 ,? p[];l imagery 0 crucial1 
,torey ?"\1 9 5abl+ hm 6>rive at a 
solu;n (! bra9-m9d pro#m 0visualis+ ! 
bra9 8z a p]petual ju7l+ act ( 9t]act+
r\t9es40

    ,liv+ 9 ! _w (! bl
  ,,soon ,,af ,,r1d+ ,torey's 
manuscript1 ,i rcvd pro(s ( yet ano!r
memoir 0a bl p]son3 ,sabriye ,t5b]k5's
8,my ,pa? ,l1ds 6,tibet04 ,t5b]k5 has 
travell$1 (t5 al"o1 "?\t ,tibet1 ": =          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ac
c5turies bl p h be5 tr1t$ z less ?an 
human & d5i$ $uc,n1 "w or any role 9 !
-mun;y4 ,alm s+le h&$ly1 ,t5b]k5 
trans=m$ ! prospects ( bl p ov] ! pa/ 
half-doz5 ye>s1 devis+ a =m ( ,tibetan
,brl1 e/abli%+ s*ools =! bl1 & 9tegrat+
! graduates ( ^! s*ools 96_! -munities4
  ,t5b]k5 h]f impair$ vi.n alm f bir?1 b
0 a# 6make \ faces & l&scapes until %e 0
#ab4 ,z a * 9 ,g]_m1 %e _h a "picul> 
predilec;n = col\rs1 & lov$ pa9t+1 & :5
%e 0 no l;g] a# 6deciph] %apes & =ms %e
cd / use col\rs 6id5tify objects4 
,t5b]k5 has1 9de$ an 9t5se synaes!sia4
  8,z f> back z ,i c rememb]10 %e 
writes1 8numb]s & ^ws h 9/antly tri7]$
col\rs 9 me ''' numb] f\r1 = example 
,7is7' gold4 ,five is li<t gre54 ,n9e
is v]million '''4 ,"ds ( week1 z well z
mon?s1 h _! col\rs1 too40 ,h] synaes!sia
has p]si/$ & be5 9t5sifi$1 x seems1 
0h] bl;s4
  ,?\< %e has be5 tot,y bl = #bj ye>s 
n[1 ,t5b]k5 3t9ues 6use all h] o!r          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ad
s5ses1 al;g ) v]bal descrip;ns1 visual
memories &a /r;g pictorial & aes!tic 
s5sibil;y1 63/ruct 8pictures0 ( l&scapes
& rooms1 1( 5viron;ts & sc5es--pictures
s lively & detail$ z 6a/oni% h] li/5]s4
,^! images may "s"ts 2 wildly or a -ic,y
di6]5t f r1l;y1 z %e relates 9 "o 9cid5t
:5 %e &a -panion drove 6,nam ,co1 ! grt
saltlake 9 ,tibet4 ,turn+ eag]ly t[>ds !
lake1 ,t5b]k5 saw 9 h] m9d's eye1 8a b1*
( cry/allis$ salt %imm]+ l sn[ "u an 
ev5+ sun1 at ! $ge (a va/ body ( wat]04
,b x !n turns \ t %e _h be5 fac+ 9 ! 
wr;g direc;n1 n 8look+0 at ! lake at 
all4
  ,^! 4p>ities d n faze h] 9 ! l1/--%e 
is happy 6h s vivid a visual imag9,n4 
,h]s is ess5ti,y an >ti/ic imag9,n1 : c
be impres.ni/ic1 romantic3 ":as ,torey's
imag9,n is t ( an 5g9e]1 & has 6be 
factual1 a3urate d[n 6! la/ detail4
  ,"! is 9cr1s+ evid;e f neurosci;e =!
extraord9>ily ri* 9t]connect$;s & 
9t]ac;ns (! s5sory >1s (! bra91 &!          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ae
di6iculty1 "!=e1 ( say+ t any?+ is 
purely visual or purely auditory1 or 
purely any?+4 ,! _w (! bl1 (! bl9d$1
x seems1 c 2 especi,y ri* 9 in-2t 
/ates--! 9t]s5sory1 ! metamodal 
-/ates = : we h no -mon language4
  ,if we >e si<t$1 we build \r [n 
images1 us+ \r eyes1 \r visual 9=m,n1 s
9/antly & s1m.sly t x seems 6u we >e 
exp]i5c+ 8r1l;y0 xf4 ,"o may ne$ 6see p
:o >e col\r-bl1 or mo;n-bl1 :o h lo/ 
c]ta9 c]ebral visual capacities f 
c]ebral 9jury1 6r1lise ! enorm\s 
syn!sis1 ! doz5s ( subsy/ems 9volv$ 9 !
subjectively simple act ( see+4 ,b c a 
visual image 2 built us+ nonvisual 
9=m,n--9=m,n 3vey$ 0! o!r s5ses1 
0memory1 or 0v]bal descrip;n8
  ,"! has be5 m* rec5t "w on ! neural 
bases ( visual imagery1 & x is n[ g5],y
a3ept$ t visual imagery activates ! 
cortex 9 a simil> way1 &) alm ! same 
9t5s;y1 z visual p]cep;n xf4 ,& yet 
/udies on ! e6ects ( bl;s on ! human          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #af
cortex h %[n t func;nal *anges may />t 
6o3ur 9 a few "ds1 & c 2come prof.d z !
"ds /ret* 96mon?s or ye>s4
  ,torey1 :o is well aw>e ( all ? 
rese>*1 attributes ,hull's loss ( visual
imagery & memory 6! fact t he did n 
/ru7le 6ma9ta9 x1 6hei<t5 & sy/ematise &
use x1 z ,torey hmf did4 ,p]h ,torey 0 
a# 6/ave (f an o!rwise 9evita# loss ( 
neuronal func;n 9 ! visual cortex2 b 
p]h1 ag1 s* neural deg5],n is q v>ia#1
irrespective ( :e!r or n "! is 3sci\s
visualis,n4
  ,b :at if _! di6];es reflect an "uly+
predisposi;n 9dep5d5t ( bl;s8 ,:at ( 
visual imagery 9 ! si<t$8 ,i f/ 2came 
3sci\s t "! cd 2 huge v>i,ns 9 visual 
imagery & visual memory :5 ,i 0 #ad or 
s4 ,my "m 0 a surgeon & -p>ative 
anatomi/1 & ,i _h br"\ h] a liz>d's 
skeleton f s*ool4 ,%e gaz$ at ? 9t5tly 
=a m9ute1 turn+ x r.d 9 h] h&s1 !n put x
d[n & )\t look+ at x ag did a numb] ( 
draw+s ( x1 rotat+ x m5t,y 0#cj degrees          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ag
ea* "t1 s t %e produc$ a s]ies1 ! la/ 
draw+ exactly ! same z ! f/4,i cd n 
imag9e h[ %e _h d"o ?1 & :5 %e sd t %e 
cd 8see0 ! skeleton 9 h] m9d j z cle>ly 
& vividly z if %e 7 look+ at x1 & t %e 
simply rotat$ ! image "? a twelf? (a 
circle ea* "t1 ,i felt 2wild]$1 & v 
/upid4 ,i cd h>dly see any?+ ) my m9d's
eye at mo/1 fa9t1 evanesc5t images ov] :
,i _h no 3trol4
  ,i was1 h["e1 6get a vivid idea ( :at
m5tal imagery cd 2 l :51 dur+ ! #aifj's1
,i _h a p]iod ( exp]i;t+ ) l>ge doses ( 
amphetam9es4 ,^! c produce /rik+ 
p]ceptual *anges1 9duc+ dramatic 5h.e;ts
( visual imagery & memory4 ,=a p]iod ( 
two weeks or s1 ,i f.d t ,i cd d ! mo/ 
a3urate anatomical draw+s4 ,i cd m5t,y 
project ! image onto ! pap] 2f me & 
trace xs \tl9es )a p5cil4 ,b :5 ! 
amphetam9e-9duc$ /ate fad$1 af a c\ple (
weeks1 ,i cd no l;g] visualise1 no l;g]
project images1 no l;g] draw nor h ,i 
be5 a# 6s 9 ! decades s9ce4         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ah
  ,a few mon?s ago1 at a m$ical 3f];e 9 
,bo/on1 ,i spoke ( ,torey's & ,hull's 
exp]i;es ( bl;s4 ,af my talk1 a man came
up 6me & ask$ h[ well1 9 my e/im,n1 
si<t$ p cd func;n if !y _h no visual 
imagery4 ,he w5t on 6say t he _h no 
visual imagery :at"e1 at l1/ n"o t he cd
delib]ately evoke1 & t no "o else 9 8 
family _h any ei4
  8,& :at d y d80 ,i ask$ hm4
  8,i am a surgeon10 he repli$4 8,a 
vascul> surgeon4 ,an anatomi/1 too40
  ,b h[1 ,i ask$ hm1 did he recognise 
:at he 0 see+8 8,x's n a pro#m10 he 
answ]$4 8,i guess "! m/ 2 repres5t,ns or
models 9 ! bra9 t get mat*$ up ) :at ,i 
am see+ & do+4 ,b !y >e n 3sci\s4 ,i _c 
evoke !m40
  ,s is ,torey's grtly develop$ visual 
imagery n z 9disp5sa# z he takes x 6be8 
,mi<t he h d"o "ey?+ he did1 f c>p5try1 
6ro( repair 6mak+ a model (! m9d1 )\t 
any 3sci\s imagery at all8
  ,:5 ,i talk 6p1 bl or si<t$1 or :5 ,i         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ai
try 6?9k ( my [n 9t]nal repres5t,ns1 ,i 
f9d myf unc]ta9 :e!r ^ws symbols & 
images ( v>i\s types >e ! prim>y tools (
?"\ or :e!r "! >e =ms ( ?"\ antec$5t 
6all ( ^!1 =ms ( ?"\ ess5ti,y amodal4 
,psy*ologi/s h "s"ts spok5 ( 89t]l+ua0 
or 8m5talese01 : !y 3cv 6be ! bra9's [n
language1 & ,lev ,vygotsky1 ! grt 
,russian psy*ologi/1 us$ 6sp1k ( 8?9k+ 9
pure m1n+s04 ,i _c decide :e!r ? is 
nons5se or prof.d tru?--x is ! sort ( 
reef ,i 5d up on :51 ,i ?9k ab ?9k+4
  ,simple visual imagery may su6ice =!
design (a screw1 an 5g9e or a surgical 
op],n1 & x may 2 relatively easy 6model 
^! ess5ti,y reproductive =ms ( imagery 
or 6simulate !m 03/ruct+ video games or
virtual r1lities ( v>i\s sorts4 ,s* p[]s
may 2 9valua#1 b "! is "s?+ passive & 
me*anical & imp]sonal ab !m : makes !m 
utt]ly di6]5t f ! hi<] & m 9timate p[]s 
(! imag9,n1 ": "! is a 3t9ual /ru7le = 
3cepts & =m & m1n+1 call+ ^u all ! p[]s 
(! self4 ,imag9,n 4solves & trans=ms1          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #bj
unifies & cr1tes1 :ile draw+ ^u ! 8l[]0
p[]s ( memory & associ,n4 ,x is 0s* 
imag9,n1 s* 8vi.n01 t we cr1te or 3/ruct
\r 9dividual _ws4
  ,at ? level1 "o c no l;g] say ( "o's 
m5tal l&scapes :at is visual1 :at is 
auditory1 :at is image1 :at is language1
:at is 9tellectual1 :at is emo;nal--!y 
>e all fus$ tgr & imbu$ ) \r [n 
9dividual p]spectives & values4 ,s* a 
unifi$ vi.n %9es \ f ,hull's memoir no
less ?an f ,torey's1 despite ! fact t "o
has 2come 8nonvisual0 &! o!r 
8hyp]visual04 ,:at seems at f/ s 
decisive a di6];e 2t ! two m5 is f9,y1 a
radical "o1 s f> z p]sonal develop;t & 
s5sibil;y g4 ,ev5 ?\< ! pa?s !y h foll[$
mi<t seem irreconcila# bo? m5 h 8us$0 
bl;s 6rel1se _! [n cr1tive capacities & 
emo;nal selves1 & bo? h a*iev$ a ri* & 
full r1lis,n ( _! [n 9dividual _ws4


         ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #ba

    ,le>n+ 6,see ,requires ,m ,?an ,j 
,eyesi<t
   ~c ,copy"r #bjjc2 ,s>ah ,graham1 
,sci5tific ,am]ican ,augu/ #be1 #bjjc
  ,al? mo/ p take x = grant$1 le>n+ h[ 
6see is a v di6icult task4 ,an 9trigu+ 
case /udy publi%$ 9 ! ,septemb] issue (
,nature ,neurosci;e describes a man's 
recov]y f #dj ye>s ( bl;s & %d help 
sci5ti/s bett] "u/& h[ ! human visual 
sy/em func;ns4
  ,ione ,f9e (! ,univ]s;y ( ,cali=nia at
,san ,diego & h] coll1gues foll[$ 
,mi*ael ,may1 a #dc-ye>-old man :o _h 
be5 bl s9ce ! age ( ?ree &a half1 z he 
recov]$ f exp]i;tal /em-cell surg]y4 ,! 
proc$udre re/or$ si<t 6his "r eye 9 ,m>*
( #bjjj4 ,"e s9ce1 he has be5 /ru7l+ 
6adapt 6a viewa# _w1 a -mon pro#m = p :o
h rega9$ _! s5se ( vi.n af ye>s ( bl;s4 
,may f9ds x "picul>ly di6icult 69t]pret 
faces & facial expres.ns--dur+ te/+1 he 
cd correctly id5tify a face z male or          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #bb
female only #gj p]c5t (! "t1 & expres.ns
z happy1 neutral or sad #fa pd]c5t (! 
"t4 ,9 a4i;n1 see+ only ! face ( 8 [n 
wife is / n 5 = hm 6id5tify h]1 & he 
relies on clues s* z hair l5g? or gait 
6help hm recognize p4
  ,6det]m9e :at causes ^! di6iculties1 !
sci5ti/s us$ func;nal magnetic reson.e 
imag+ 7;f,,mr;i7 6track activ;y 9 ,may's
bra9 z he process$ ! _w >.d hm4 ,al? 
,may's abil;y 6p]cv simple =ms1 colors &
mo;n is ess5ti,y normal1 ! 9ve/igators 
f.d t :5 he looks at faces or ?ree-
dim5.nal objects1 ! bra9 region active 9
si<t$ p dur+ id5tific,n is n utiliz$4 ,?
su7e/s t di6]5t "ps (! visual sy/em 
develop at di6]5t "ts1 ! au?ors note1 ) 
mo;n process+ 2+ m h>d-wir$ & =m+ v e>ly
in life4 8,! old idea t "! is "o picture
(! _w on ! surface (! visual cortex is 
f> too simple10 rem>ks /udy co-au?or 
,donald ,i4 ,a4 ,mac,leod (! ,univ]s;y (
,cali=nia at ,san ,diego4 8,in fact1 we 
probably h a c\ple doz5 maps1 ea*          ,,:at ,,! ,,bl ,,see        #bc
repres5t+ a di6]5t mode = s5s+ & tak+ 9 
\r 5viron;t40 ,z = ,may1 he is sl[ly -+
6t]ms ) 8 si<t4 8,! di6];e 2t td & two 
ye>s ago is t ,i c bett] guess at :at ,i
am see+10 he says4 8,:at is ! same is t 
,i am / guess+40

,,! ,,5d















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