NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CASE OF DR. P. IN OLIVER SACK’S “THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT”

Abstract

The present paper addresses disorders of visual perception and recognition through the analysis of the classic neuropsychological case of Dr. P., as described by Oliver Sacks. Although the patient retains normal vision, intelligence, and language abilities, he exhibits a severe inability to recognize faces and objects, as well as to assign meaning to visual stimuli. The study focuses on the distinction between the forms of visual agnosia, as formulated by Lissauer, and highlights the importance of integrative processing for the holistic perception of the visual world. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of neuroplasticity and compensatory mechanisms, with music functioning as a primary means of organizing the patient’s experience and adapting to everyday life.