Doppler detection triggers instantaneous escape behavior in scanning bats.

Abstract in brief

• Echolocating bats quickly detect incoming threats using Doppler shifts, which indicate velocity, rather than relying on changes in echo delay or position.
• When faced with equivalent phantom echoes that simulate a moving object, bats respond instinctively, showing their survival depends on auditory detection of movement.
• This study reveals that bats perceive object movement through Doppler shifts in sound, allowing them to instantly trigger escape behavior, unlike visual systems that focus on spatial changes.