PubHawk
April 2014 PMID 24524865

A summary of research investigating echolocation abilities of blind and sighted humans.

Andrew J Kolarik, Silvia Cirstea, Shahina Pardhan, Brian C J Moore

Full text PDF Download social card

Mentions

12
Peak: 2 in Aug 2025
across 4 sources since Aug 2018

Extended reach

7,346
potential audience

Total likes

51

Video views

7,299

Mentions per month

Aug 2018 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News8 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • X / Twitter1 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions express a strong fascination with the idea of echolocation as a hidden or enhanced human sense, referencing brain adaptations such as the recruitment of visual areas for echolocation processing. Words like 'superpower' and 'forgotten sense' convey a tone of awe and curiosity, emphasizing the potential implications for understanding human perception and neural plasticity.

AgreementModerate agreement

Posts generally acknowledge the validity and significance of the research, especially highlighting the brain's adaptability, showing a positive alignment with the article's findings.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions reflect high interest, particularly emphasizing the extraordinary abilities of blind individuals and the potential of echolocation, indicating curiosity and admiration.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include references to brain processing and practical implications, suggesting moderate depth in engagement but not extensive debate or detailed critique.

ImpactModerate impact

The emphasis on the potential of echolocation as a sort of 'superpower' and brain plasticity implies recognition of meaningful implications, though not universally perceived as revolutionary.

Abstract in brief

  • Research highlights that both blind and sighted humans can develop echolocation abilities to navigate and identify objects using sound reflections.
  • Many blind individuals produce specific sounds and interpret echoes to understand their environment, with some developing highly advanced skills comparable to bats.
  • Training can help sighted people improve their echolocation skills, and further research is needed to understand how to optimize these abilities and their practical benefits, especially for those who have recently become blind.
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Thorsten Schwerte
@tschwerte · X

Sehen ohne Augen eine Superkraft? Echolokation – der vergessene Sinn, mi... https://t.co/H8WlXrLoZy via @YouTube

Aug 22, 2025 · 47 followers View post →
The vOICe vision BCI
@seeingwithsound.bsky.social · Bluesky

(Hearing Research, 2014) A summary of research investigating echolocation abilities of blind and sighted humans https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595514000185 "Visual brain areas of the blind are recruited for processing echolocation information"

Aug 4, 2018 View post →

All mentions

Thorsten Schwerte
@tschwerte · X

Sehen ohne Augen eine Superkraft? Echolokation – der vergessene Sinn, mi... https://t.co/H8WlXrLoZy via @YouTube

Aug 22, 2025 · 47 followers View post →
The vOICe vision BCI
@seeingwithsound.bsky.social · Bluesky

(Hearing Research, 2014) A summary of research investigating echolocation abilities of blind and sighted humans https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595514000185 "Visual brain areas of the blind are recruited for processing echolocation information"

Aug 4, 2018 View post →