Perceptual Adaptation

George M. Stratton, a psychologist, was intrigued by the idea of perceptual adaptation. Because the retina receives images upside down, he was intrigued to see what happens when the brain receives an image that is right side up. Stratton conducted experiments in the 1890s, in which he tested the theory of perceptual adaptation.[2] One experiment in which Stratton conducted was when he wore a reversing telescope for a whole twenty four hours. To his disappointment, his vision was unchanged. Determined to find results, Stratton wore the telescoping glasses for eight days straight. By day four, his vision was upright (not inverted). However on day five, images appeared upright until he concentrated on them; then they became inverted again. By having to concentrate on his vision to turn it upside down again, especially when he knew images were hitting his retinas in the opposite orientation as normal, Stratton deduced his brain had reprocessed his vision and adapted to the changes in vision. After removing the glasses, "normal vision was restored instantaneously[dubious – discuss] and without any disturbance in the natural appearance or position of objects