Oliver Sacks on Medical Research | Big Think

TL;DR

An astronaut's wife who was born cross-eyed develops stereo vision after 50 years, defying conventional wisdom on the age limit for acquiring the ability.

Transcript

some years ago when I was actually interested in writing about astronauts and what the Zer gravity experience was like I met an astronaut's wife at a party and um uh and observe something a little odd about her gaze and she said yes said she had in fact been uh born crosseyed with a squint that this had been treated surgically and most people didn'... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤕 Stereoscopic vision can be acquired later in life, contrary to the belief that it has to develop by the age of two.
• 🏃 Special exercises and prisms can help individuals gain stereo vision.
• 🌍 The wife's newfound stereo vision provided her with a sense of wonder and a deeper appreciation for the world.
• 🧑‍🚀 The author's own passion for stereo photography and animal vision influenced their interest in the astronaut's wife's story.
• 😃 Animals like cuttlefish use their eyes and tentacles to switch between panoramic and stereo vision.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the astronaut's wife initially describe her vision before gaining stereo vision?

The wife mentioned that one eye would work at a time, although most people didn't notice anything wrong. She had never experienced depth perception or stereoscopic vision.

Q: How did the astronaut's wife finally acquire stereo vision after 50 years?

The wife underwent special exercises and used prisms in her glasses. After one training session, she noticed the steering wheel popping out from the dashboard, realizing she had gained stereo vision.

Q: What did the author find intriguing about the astronaut's wife's experience?

The author was fascinated by the wife's ability to develop stereo vision at 50 years old, contradicting the common belief that it has to be acquired by the age of two.

Q: How did the author personally connect with the astronaut's wife's story?

The author had a passion for stereo photography and was a member of the New York stereoscopic society. This interest led them to explore the topic further and visit the wife.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author met an astronaut's wife who had undergone squint surgery and observed something unusual about her gaze.

• The wife originally couldn't imagine experiencing stereo vision but later acquired it through special exercises and prisms.

• The author, having a passion for stereo photography and animal vision, found the wife's experience fascinating.