Publications

Find all lab publications on Google Scholar.  Below is also a list of our papers . If you struggle accessing any publications, or have questions, please send an email to lore.thaler@durham.ac.uk

Norman, L.J., Hartley, T. , Thaler, L. (2024). Changes in primary visual and auditory cortex of blind and sighted adults following 10 weeks of click-based echolocation training. Cerebral Cortex, doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhae239 [link to free article] 

Thaler, L, Castillo-Serrano, J.G., Kish, D., Norman, L.J. (2024). Effects of type of emission and masking sound, and their spatial correspondence, on blind and sighted people’s ability to echolocate. Neuropsychologia, 196, 108822. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108822  [link to free article] 

Thaler, L., Di Gregorio, G., Foresteire, D. (2023). 6-hour Training in Click-based Echolocation changes Practice in Visual Impairment Professionals. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 4: 1098624. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1098624 [link to free article] 

Norman, L. & Thaler, L (2023) The occipital place area is recruited for echo-acoustically guided navigation in blind human echolocators. Journal of Neuroscience, 43 (24), 4470-4486. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1402-22.2023 [link to free article] 

Negen, J., Bird, L., Slater, H., Thaler, L. & Nardini, M. (2023). Multisensory Perception and Decision Making with a New Sensory Skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 49(5), 600-622. doi:10.1037/xhp0001114  [link to free article] 

Thaler, L. (2022). Echolocation in People. Physiology News, 126: 20-23.doi:10.36866/pn.126.20 [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Norman, L., De Vos, R., Kish, D., Antoniou, M., Baker, C., Hornikx, M. (2022). Human Echolocators have better Localization Off Axis. Psychological Science. 33(7): 1143–1153. doi: 10.1177/09567976211068070.  [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Norman, L. (2021). No effect of 10-week training in click-based echolocation on auditory localization in people who are blind. Experimental Brain Research. doi: 10.1007/s00221-021-06230-5. [link to free article]

Norman, L., Dodsworth, C., Foresteire, D., Thaler, L. (2021). Human click-based echolocation: Effects of blindness and age, and real-life implications in a 10-week training program. PLOS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252330. [link to free article]

Castillo-Serrano, J.G., Norman, L., Foresteire, D., Thaler, L. (2021). Increased Emission Intensity can compensate for the Presence of Noise in Human Click-Based Echolocation. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81220-9. [link to free article]

Norman, L., Thaler, L. (2020). Perceptual constancy with a novel sensory skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000888 [link to free article]

Norman, L., Thaler, L. (2020). Stimulus Uncertainty Affects Perception in Human Echolocation: Timing, Level and Spectrum. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. DOI: 10.1037/xge0000775 [link to free article]

Dodsworth, C., Norman, L., Thaler, L. (2020). Navigation and perception of spatial layout in virtual echo-acoustic space. Cognition, 197: 104185. DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2020.104185 [link to free article]

Norman, L., Thaler, L. (2019). Retinotopic-like maps of spatial sound in primary ‘visual’ cortex of blind human echolocators. Proceedings of the Royal Society: Series B Biological Sciences, 286: 20191910. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1910. [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Zhang, X., Antoniou, M., Kish, D. & Cowie, D. (2019). The flexible Action System: Click-based Echolocation may replace certain visual Functionality for adaptive Walking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 46(1), 21-35. DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000697. [link to free article]

Thaler, L., De Vos, R., Kish, D., Antoniou, M., Baker, C., Hornikx, M. (2019). Human Click-Based Echolocation of Distance: Superfine Acuity and Dynamic Clicking Behaviour. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 20(5), 499-510. DOI: 0.1007/s10162-019-00728-0 [link to free article]

Negen, J., Chere, B., Bird, L., Taylor, E., Roome, H., Keenaghan, S., Thaler, L. & Nardini, M.(2019). Sensory Cue Combination in Children Under 10 Years of Age. Cognition, 193, 104014. DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104014 [link to article]

Negen, J., Wen, L., Thaler, L. & Nardini, M. (2018). Bayes-Like Integration of a New Sensory Skill with Vision. Scientific Reports, 8: 16880. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35046-7 [link to free article]

Norman, L., Thaler, L.(2018). Human echolocation for target detection is more accurate with emissions containing higher spectral frequencies, and this is explained by echo intensity. i-Perception, 9(3). DOI: 10.1177/2041669518776984 [link to free article]

Yu, X.L., Thaler, L., Baker, C.J., Smith, G.E., Zhao, L.S. (2018). Human echolocation: 2-D shape discrimination using features extracted from acoustic echoes. Electronic Letters. DOI: 10.1049/el.2018.0680 

Arcaro, M., Thaler, L., Quinlan, D.J., Monaco, S., Khan, S., Valyear, K., Goebel, R., Dutton, G.N., Goodale, M.A., Kastner, S., Culham, J.C. (2018). Psychophysical and neuroimaging responses to moving stimuli in a patient with the Riddoch phenomenon due to bilateral visual cortex lesions. Neuropsychologia. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.05.008

Thaler, L., De Vos, R., Kish, D., Antoniou, M., Baker, C., Hornikx, M. (2018). Human Echolocators adjust loudness and number of clicks for detection of reflectors at various azimuth angles. Proceedings of the Royal Society: Series B Biological Sciences. 285: 20172735. [link to free article]

Thaler, L & Foresteire, D. (2017). Visual sensory stimulation interferes with people’s ability to echolocate object size. Nature Scientific Reports. 7: 13069. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12967-3. [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Reich, G.M., Zhang, X., Wang, D., Smith, G.E., Tao, Z., Abdullah, R., Cherniakov, M., Baker, C.J., Kish, D. & Antoniou, M. (2017). Mouth-Clicks used by Blind Human Echolocators – Signal Description and Model Based Signal Synthesis. PLoS Computational Biology, 13(8): e1005670. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005670. [link to free article]

Zhang, X., Reich, G., Antoniou, M., Cherniakov, M., Baker, C.J., Thaler, L., Kish, D., Smith, G.E. (2017). Human echolocation: Waveform Analysis of Tongue Clicks. Electronics Letters, doi: 10.1049/el.2017.0454. 

Norman, L. & Thaler, L. (2017). Human Echolocation – Spatial Resolution and Signal Properties.in Biologically Inspired Radar and Sonar: Lessons from Nature, Eds. Balleri, A., Griffiths, H., Baker, C. pages 209-227.

Thaler, L. & Goodale, M.A. (2016). Echolocation in People: An Overview. WIREs Cogn Sci, doi: 10.1002/wcs.1408. 

Thaler, L. & Castillo-Serrano, J.G. (2016). People’s ability to detect objects using click-based echolocation: A direct comparison between mouth-clicks and clicks made by a loudspeaker. PLoS ONE, 11(5): e0154868. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154868.[link to free article]

Thaler, L. (2015) Using sound to get around – Discoveries in Human Echolocation. Observer, 28(10). [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Paciocco, J., Daley, M., Lesniak, G.D., Purcell, D.W., Fraser, J.A. Dutton, G.N., Rossit, S., Goodale, M.A. & Culham, J.C. (2016) A selective impairment of perception of sound motion direction in peripheral space: A case study. Neuropsychologia, 80, 79-89. 

Fiehler, K., Schütz, I., Meller, T. & Thaler, L. (2015) Neural correlates of human echolocation of path direction during walking.Multisensory Research, 28, 195-226. 

Milne, J.L., Goodale, M.A., Arnott S.R., Kish, D. & Thaler, L. (2015) Parahippocampal cortex is involved in material processing through echolocation in blind echolocation experts.Vision Research, doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2014.07.004

Milne, J.L., Anello, M., Goodale, M.A., & Thaler, L. (2015) A blind human expert echolocator shows size constancy for objects perceived by echoes.Neurocase, 21, 465-470. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2014.922994. 

Milne, J.L., Goodale, M.A., & Thaler, L. (2014) The role of head movements in the discrimination of 2-D shape by blind echolocation experts.Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 76, 1828-1837. doi: 10.3758/s13414-014-0695-2. 

Thaler, L., Wilson, R.C. & Gee, B.K. (2014) Correlation between Vividness of Visual Imagery and Echolocation Ability in Sighted, Echo-Naive People. Experimental Brain Research, 232 (6), 1915-1925. doi: 10.1007/s00221-014-3883-3. 

Thaler, L., Milne, J.L., Arnott,S., Kish,D. & Goodale, M.A. (2014). Neural Correlates of Motion Processing through Echolocation, Source Hearing and Vision in Blind Echolocation Experts and Sighted Echolocation Novices.Journal of Neurophysiology, 111: 112:127.

Thaler, L.(2013) Echolocation may have real-life advantages for blind people: an analysis of survey data. Frontiers in Integrative Physiology, 4:98. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00098.[link to free article]

Arnott,S.R., Thaler, L., Milne,J., Kish,D. & Goodale, M.A.(2013). Shape-specific activation of occipital cortex in an early blind echolocation expert. Neuropsychologia,51, 938-949. 

Thaler,L., Schütz, A.C., Goodale, M.A. & Gegenfurtner,K.R (2013). What is the best fixation target? The effect of target shape on stability of fixational eye movements.Vision Research,76,31-42.

Schlicht, T., Vetter, P., Thaler, L. & Moss, C. (2012). Wahrnehmung. In Handbuch Kognitionswissenschaft. Stephan, A. & Walter, S. Stuttgart: Metzler.

Thaler, L. & Goodale, M. A. (2011) Neural substrates of visual spatial coding and visual feedback control for hand movements in allocentric and target-directed tasks. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 5:92. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00092.[link to free article]

Thaler, L., Arnott, S.R. & Goodale, M. A. (2011) Neural correlates of natural human echolocation in early and late blind echolocation experts. PLoS ONE, 6(5): e20162. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020162.[link to free article]

Thaler, L. & Goodale, M. A.(2011) Reaction times for allocentric movements are 35 ms slower than reaction times for target-directed movements. Experimental Brain Research, 211 (2), 313-328. 

Gordon*, G., Kaplan*, D.M., Lankow*, B., Little*, D.Y., Sherwin*, J. Suter*, B.A & Thaler*, L. (2011). Towards an integrated Framework for Perception and Action: Conference Report and Future Directions.Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 5:20. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2011.00020.[link to free article]

*all authors contributed equally to this work.

Thaler, L. & Goodale, M. A. (2011). The role of online visual feedback for the control of target-directed and allocentric hand movements. Journal of Neurophysiology, 105, 846-859. 

Thaler, L. & Todd, J.T. (2010). The perception of 3D shape from texture based on directional width gradients.Journal of Vision, 10(5), 1-13. [link to free article]

Thaler, L. & Goodale, M.A.(2010). Beyond Distance and Direction: The CNS represents Target Locations non-metrically.Journal of Vision, 10(3), 1-27. [link to free article]

Thaler, L. & Todd, J.T. (2010). Evidence from Visuo-Motor Adaptation for two partially independent Visuo-motor systems.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 36(4), 924-935. 

Thaler, L. & Todd, J.T. (2009). The Control Parameters used by the CNS to Guide the Hand Depend on the Visuo-Motor Task: Evidence from Visually Guided Pointing.Neuroscience, 159, 578-598. 

Thaler, L. & Todd, J.T. (2009). The Use of Head/Eye-Centered, Hand-Centered and Allocentric Representations for Visually Guided Hand Movements and Perceptual Judgments. Neuropsychologia, 47, 1227-1244. 

Todd, J.T., Thaler, L., Dijkstra, T.M.H, Koenderink, J.J. & Kappers, A.M.L. (2007). The Effects of Viewing Angle, Camera Angle and Sign of Surface Curvature on the Perception of 3D Shape from Texture.Journal of Vision, 7(12), 1-16. [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Todd, J.T., Spering, M., & Gegenfurtner, K.R. (2007). Illusory Bending of a rigidly moving Line Segment: Effects of Image Motion and smooth pursuit Eye Movements.Journal of Vision, 7(6), 1-13. [link to free article]

Thaler, L., Todd, J.T. & Dijkstra, T.M.H. (2007). The Effects of Phase on the Perception of 3D Shape from Texture: Psychophysics and Modeling.Vision Research, 47, 411-427. 

Todd, J.T., Thaler, L. & Dijkstra, T.M.H (2005). The Effects of Field of View on the Perception of 3D Slant from Texture.Vision Research, 45, 1501-1517.