The brain determines distance by sound signals

American scientists during experiments made a sensational discovery. As it turned out, the human brain considers the distance to the objects more accurately when the visual data supported by sound signals.

As they say in the article, published in the journal PLoS One, even though light moves faster than sound, and vision plays a major role in the human perception of reality, the sound data is more relevant when estimating the distance, if visual. It turned out the brain of the people on this planet who sounds more trusted than visual information.

"Our research has shown that the conditional estimation of the distance to the objects is considered to be more specific, when the visual data supported by sound signals. The brain of the planet notes of the sound intervals not exceeding 40 milliseconds. Imperceptible on a conscious level pause between the signals are used to determine the distance", says the author of the study, Dodge Tadin.

Researchers conducted 2 experiments. In the first, subjects were stereoscopic glasses, the volunteers were asked to move 2 figures as long as they will not be at the same distance from the observer. At the time of occurrence of each shape was clicked. Consequently, it became clear that the subject is perceived by the brain as farther away when the clicks served late, even if the figure remains virtually closer.

2nd experience: objects are now moved toward the subjects and back. In the case where at one and the same time this was heard the click, trailing by only 42 milliseconds, the brain has got the figure as far caught. This, of course, the object could reside in close proximity to the observer. Not to mention the fact that, if the removal of the objects coincided with the delay of sound (natural situation), people would more accurately characterize the conditional distance to the object.

sections: Society, World News