Amazing human neural plasticity
Echolocating kid, who had both his retinas surgically removed at an early age:
This dramatic example of human neural plasticity is amazing! Someone should go study this kid and his parents and find out more about how he developed his echolocation strategy. Are there other examples of this occurring in the medical literature? I’ve heard that blind people have very good hearing (and other senses) but this seems like a little more than “good hearing.” Also, thanks to Ben Huh for pointing me to this!
March 21st, 2007 at 1:29 am
I’ve read a non-scientific article about a group of blind people using this same technique to do outdoor sports – particularly downhill mountainbiking. The leader of this group is supposedly able to hear the echo of a chain-link fence. They call him ‘Batman’.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Holy cr@9. That guy is amazing. This is why I love the brain. And the human spirit. Thanks!