Seeing blindfolded

Psiclops on Skeptiko has started a thread on claims by Rob Freeman and Wendy Gallant about people's ability to learn to perceive colours and recognise numbers and letters when blindfolded. Freeman has posted a number of videos to YouTube. (Psiclops's post also refers briefly to training the blind to see. But perhaps that is a reference to the recognised phenomenon of "Blindsight," in which people who are blind for neurological reasons are able to perceive visual stimuli.)
http://www.skeptiko-forum.com/threads/is...ight.4447/

Of course, many people have claimed in the past to be able to see when blindfolded, and the usual conventional explanation has been that there was a gap in the blindfold and they were able to peek through it.

[Laird]

Of course, many people have claimed in the past to be able to see when blindfolded, and the usual conventional explanation has been that there was a gap in the blindfold and they were able to peek through it.

I don't think that that's a tenable explanation in this case. These people are thoroughly blindfolded.

Ever since learning about remote viewing I figured there should be some way to adapt it into a therapy for the blind since you're already getting accurate information you couldn't see in the first place. But I doubted it could replace sight.

To add some context - this has apparently been quite a well known claim in India over the last few years, linked to a purported training method for children known as "midbrain activation." The ability to see while blindfolded supposedly validates the method, for which quite high fees are charged. It has been covered by Brian Dunning's Skeptoid podcast. Dunning concluded that the training method was a scam, and that the blindfolded reading by the children was a simple trick:
https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4613

[Laird]

It has been covered by Brian Dunning's Skeptoid podcast. Dunning concluded that the training method was a scam, and that the blindfolded reading by the children was a simple trick

Of course he did. He writes: "The children are simply looking down through the gap on either side of their nose, the blindfolds having all been affixed in such a way as to permit that."

However, watching the videos which Psiclops posted to Skeptiko, it seems that that is simply not possible in many cases - e.g., when wearing the "MindSight" goggles which mould to the face.

[Laird]

Ever since learning about remote viewing I figured there should be some way to adapt it into a therapy for the blind since you're already getting accurate information you couldn't see in the first place. But I doubted it could replace sight.

I'm glad you noticed this thread, Mediochre, because it seems a good fit for your goal of developing real magic - and how else would one describe being able to see through blindfolds, or to break a solid metal rod with only a finger?

Of course he did. He writes: "The children are simply looking down through the gap on either side of their nose, the blindfolds having all been affixed in such a way as to permit that."

However, watching the videos which Psiclops posted to Skeptiko, it seems that that is simply not possible in many cases - e.g., when wearing the "MindSight" goggles which mould to the face.

He's apparently attacking an entirely seperate branch of Indian mysticism than what the video in the thread with the dojo was presenting which is from Indonesia. Even if Dunning was right about that particular branch, it would make sense that there would be fake imitations out there simply for the easy cash.

The claim is also completely different between the schools. The 'midbrain' theory is that there is a structure within the brain responsible for blindsight while the 'vibravision' technique claims its a form of remote viewing using 'vibrations'.

And yeah, it's laughable to claim that they're simply peeking. I would expect the only explanation from Dunning about the videos posted would be that they're clearly committing fraud because its impossible to see without your eyes.

From the MPUSA website (https://mp-usa.org/vibravision/)
Vibravision® comes from the Indonesian Royal Family’s martial art called Merpati Putih or MP. Vibravision has been used as an orientation and mobility method by blind people in Indonesia for decades. It is also used by the Indonesian elite military special forces, called Kopassus, in place of night vision technology.

Of course he did. He writes: "The children are simply looking down through the gap on either side of their nose, the blindfolds having all been affixed in such a way as to permit that."

However, watching the videos which Psiclops posted to Skeptiko, it seems that that is simply not possible in many cases - e.g., when wearing the "MindSight" goggles which mould to the face.

The trouble is that the demonstrations in the videos could be faked in other ways.

I'd have to ask - if it's really easy to train people to do this reliably, why has it not been verified in the lab under controlled conditions?

I'd have to ask - if it's really easy to train people to do this reliably, why has it not been verified in the lab under controlled conditions?

I think you overestimate how much attention scientists pay towards this sort of thing, and also how little interest there is generally in these communities to open themselves up to scientific inquiry (seen as attack by pseudoskeptics or government shills etc by some).. In my opinion there are probably tons of groups like this around the world that scientists will never hear about because they don't make themselves known to the scientific community.