Final answer:
The visual system adapts to sensory input changes through the flexibility of the visual cortex and the autonomic regulation of light intensity reaching the retina. There is also signal processing within the eye that aids in maintaining sensory and color constancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Correction for Sensory Adaptation
The visual system has the ability to correct for the effect of sensory adaptation through the flexibility of the visual cortex. An interesting experiment from the 1960s illustrated this with subjects wearing prism glasses that inverted their visual field. Initially, this caused disorientation as subjects would respond incorrectly to visual cues. However, after a period of acclimation, the subjects adapted and perceived their environment correctly, indicating that the visual cortex can reorganize its processing in response to sustained changes in sensory input.
Autonomic Regulation and Sensory Processing
The autonomic system also contributes to managing sensory adaptation by controlling the amount of light that reaches the retina. This is done through the pupillary reflex, which adjusts the pupil size in response to brightness. For example, the sympathetic response might dilate the pupils in a fight-or-flight scenario to allow more light and information in, while the parasympathetic response might constrict them during rest. This helps maintain the activation of photoreceptors within optimal ranges.
In addition to these reflexive changes, there is also signal processing that occurs at the level of the eye itself before information is sent to the brain. The eye processes information about edges and contrasts directly, thanks to the network of nerve connections among the light receptors on the retina, contributing to sensory and color constancy.