-With pictures and videos-
Novel research conducted by scientists from Durham University, UK, University of Birmingham, UK, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands and Placentia, USA have discovered for the first time that human echolocators have better acuity in localising a target from 45° off to the side as compared to from straight ahead at 0°.
The researchers tested echo-localisation abilities of nine blind adult human experts who use this skill on a daily basis.
They discovered that echolocation performance is drastically improved at 45° where the participants can better locate targets based on echoes coming from sideways.
Their research findings indicate that human echolocation and human regular spatial hearing might be governed by different principles as regular hearing is best from straight ahead at 0° and gets worse as targets move further to the side.
The researchers point out that human echolocation and regular hearing may rely on different acoustic cues, and that human spatial hearing has more facets than previously thought.
The researchers also characterised and analysed the clicking behaviour of the participants and found that participants made quieter clicks when they receive stronger echo signals coming from sideways at 45° angle.
Full results of the study have been published in the journal Psychological Science.
Lead author of the paper, Dr Lore Thaler of Durham University, said: “There is still a lot to discover about human echolocation, and about human perceptual abilities more generally. Our findings show that there are facets of human spatial hearing that we did not know before.”
The researchers further established that better human echo-localisation away from straight ahead is consistent with what has been observed in bats.
This is surprising because bats possess anatomical and neural specialisations for echolocation, which humans do not have. To nonetheless find such behavioural similarity suggests that both humans and bats may have similar sensing strategies.
The research findings shed new light on human echolocation capabilities that provide more details and useful guidance for echolocation instructors and new users where they can turn their head away to locate objects and targets more accurately.
ENDS
Media Information
Dr Lore Thaler of Durham University is available for interview and can be contacted on lore.thaler@durham.ac.uk.
Alternatively, please contact Durham University Communications Office for interview requests on communications.team@durham.ac.uk.
Source information
‘Human Echolocators have better Localization Off-Axis, (2022), L. Thaler, L. Norman, H.P.J.C. De Vos, D. Kish, M. Antoniou, C.J. Baker and M.C.J. Hornikx, Psychological Science.
Full paper can be accessed here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976211068070
Graphics
Associated images are available via the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bylc7p6bw1qm5vl/AADWONxYiOuKCizo3NMvv2z8a?dl=0
Video 1: https://community.dur.ac.uk/lore.thaler/building_to_building_exercise_outdoors.mp4
Video 2: https://community.dur.ac.uk/lore.thaler/panel_exercise_indoors_1.mp4
Credit: Durham University
Useful Web Links
Dr Lore Thaler staff profile: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/lore-thaler/
Department of Psychology: https://www.durham.ac.uk/psychology/
Centre for Vision and Visual Recognition: https://www.dur.ac.uk/cvvc/
About Durham University
Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK.
We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world.
We conduct boundary-breaking research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2023).
We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide).
For more information about Durham University visit: www.durham.ac.uk/about/
END OF MEDIA RELEASE – issued by Durham University Communications Office.