Blind and sighted people alike can learn to ‘see’ with echolocation, study finds

Many technologies exist to assist people who are blind or have limited vision in managing daily life. However, even without technology, individuals can learn the ability to echolocate like bats and whales to see the world around them using sound. Scientists in the U.K. recently conducted an experiment where a group of sighted and blind individuals were given a 10-week course on echolocation. The results, published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, suggest that our brains have an extraordinary capacity to adapt, regardless of visual ability.

In the early 1980s, during my time as a roving reporter for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, I visited the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Toronto. There, I interviewed Geoff Eden, who was responsible for introducing new emerging technologies to assist people who are blind. Eden, who is blind himself, showcased various devices such as a beeping soccer ball, early voice synthesizers for computer screens, and braille keyboards and printers. However, what truly amazed me was his ability to navigate without the use of a white cane typically used by many blind individuals.

During our interaction, Eden led me through a parking lot and between cars without hesitation, using the sound of his jingling keys as his sonar. He explained how he could identify nearby objects and determine their distance through echoes. His navigation skills were truly remarkable, showcasing how sound could be used as a tool for seeing the world.

Echolocation is a technique used by animals such as bats, whales, and dolphins to sense their environment. Individuals like Brian Borowski and Geoff Eden have honed their echolocation skills to identify objects as small as 20 centimeters in length. Their ability to use sound to visualize their surroundings highlights the brain’s remarkable adaptability in the absence of sight.

In a recent study published in Cerebral Cortex, researchers investigated whether sighted individuals could enhance their ability to use sound for visual references through echolocation practice. The results showed that after 10 weeks of training, participants, regardless of their visual ability, exhibited changes in the audio and visual portions of their brains. This suggests that the brain’s primary visual cortex can respond to sound stimuli, demonstrating its plasticity and capacity for learning.

As we age and vision deteriorates, paying attention to the sounds around us can enhance our awareness of the environment. By utilizing sound as a tool for navigating and understanding our surroundings, we can improve our sensory experience and adapt to changes in our visual abilities. Echolocation offers a unique perspective on how individuals, both blind and sighted, can harness the power of sound to see the world in a new light.