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Blind Man Navigates Obstacle Maze Unaided

Posted by samzenpus on from the matthew-murdock dept.

iammani writes "The NYTimes runs a story about a blind man (blind because of a damaged visual cortex) successfully navigating an obstacle maze, unaided. Scientists have shown for the first time that it is possible for people who are blinded because of damage to the visual (striate) cortex can navigate by 'blindsight,' through which they can detect things in their vicinity without being aware of seeing them."

3 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Ben Underwood by futuresheep · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Navigating by sound.

    http://www.benunderwood.com/

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/06/eveningnews/main1977730.shtml

    Ben had cancer in both eyes. But he discovered a way to beat his blindness. When he was about 6, he started "clicking," and quickly realized that the sound he made with his tongue bounced off things around him, giving him an idea what was there.

  2. Re:his eyes are fine by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I did RTFA. And I think the article is a load of BS. The visual areas of the brain will light up because the brain doesn't know the difference between what you see with your eyes and what you see with your imagination and memories. IMHO, sight doesn't happen as much in the eyes as it does in the brain.

    --
    My blog
  3. Re:Who modded this crap +5? by Viol8 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    "Some people see a tiny bit farther into the infra-red than others"

    No , they don't. Fact.

    "Some people see four *primary* colors"

    None of which stretch into the infra red.

    "You almost always bump against it or bang into a corner."

    Yeah , right. Why not RTFA - the guy didn't do the test in the dark - his eyes were receiving the light and sending it to part of his brain , just not the part the part that produces concious sight. He didn't have some magic 6th sense and neither do you so cut the BS.