The part of the brain used by people who can “see like a bat” has been identified by researchers in Canada.<\/p>\n
Some blind people have learned to echolocate by making clicking noises and listening to the returning echoes.<\/p>\n
A study of two such people, published in PLoS ONE, showed a part of the brain usually associated with sight was activated when listening to echoes.<\/p>\n
Action for Blind People said further research could improve the way the technique is taught.<\/p>\n
Bats and dolphins bounce sound waves off their surroundings and by listening to the echoes can “see” the world around them.<\/p>\n
Some blind humans have also trained themselves to do this, allowing them to explore cities, cycle and play sports.
Brain scan<\/p>\n
Researchers looked at two patients who use echolocation every day. EB, aged 43, was blinded at age 13 months. LB, 27, had been blind since age 14.<\/p>\n
They were recorded echolocating, while microphones were attached to their ears.<\/p>\n
The recordings were then played while their brain activity was being recorded in an fMRI machine.<\/p>\n
Increased activity in the calcarine cortex was discovered.<\/p>\n
Dr Lore Thaler, from University of Western Ontario, said: “This suggests that visual brain areas play an important role for echolocation in blind people.”<\/p>\n
The study looked at only two people so cannot say for certain what happens in the brains of all people who learn the technique, but the study concludes: “EB and LB use echolocation in a way that seems uncannily similar to vision.”<\/p>\n
Susie Roberts, rehabilitation officer at Action for Blind People, said: “This research into brain activity and echolocation is very interesting and improves our understanding of how some visually impaired people may be processing information to help them navigate safely.<\/p>\n
“Further investigation may help to improve the way the technique is taught to people in the future, potentially improving their mobility and independence.”<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
View the original here: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The part of the brain used by people who can “see like a bat” has been identified by researchers in Canada. Some blind people have learned to echolocate by making clicking noises and listening to the returning echoes. A study of two such people, published in PLoS ONE, showed a part of the brain usually associated with sight was activated when listening to echoes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":429137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-430678","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n
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