Staff profile

Grant Reviewer

ESRC; MRC; NWO; NSF; National Science Center Poland

Journal Reviewer

Experimental Brain Research •Journal of Motor Behavior • Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance • Consciousness and Cognition • Neuron •Journal of Neuroscience Methods • Human Brain Mapping • Cognition • Journal of the Royal Society ‘Interface’ • Proceedings of the Royal Society (Series B) • Visual Cognition • Frontiers in Integrative Physiology • PLoS One • Current Biology •Journal of Neurophysiology • Behavioral Brain Research • Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science • European Journal of Neuroscience • Current Directions in Psychological Science • Acta Psychologica • Frontiers in Cognitive Science • IEE TBME

• sensory neuroplasticity; human echolocation, visual perception, auditory perception, blindness, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

• 2016: Grant\t: ESRC (PI: M Nardini; Co-I: LT) (2016-2019) ‘Using Echolocation To Study The Development Of Cue Combination’ (£450k)
• 2014: Grant: British Council GII (2014-2016) ‘Seeing with Sound:Developing an Echolocation Device based on sensing principles derived from Human Users’ (total: £147,064; sub-award LT: £35,800)
• 2014: Grant: BBSRC (2015-2018) ‘Human echolocation: Basic mechanisms and neuroplasticity’ (£409,942)
• 2010: Grant: Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2010), Project: Investigation of Neural Correlates of Visual-Spatial Representations (50,000 CA $)

Chapter in book

• Human Echolocation - Spatial Resolution and Signal Properties
  Norman, L., & Thaler, L. (2017). Human Echolocation - Spatial Resolution and Signal Properties. In A. Balleri, H. Griffiths, & C. Baker (Eds.), Biologically-inspired radar and sonar : lessons from nature (209-227). Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). https://doi.org/10.1049/sbra514e_ch10
• Wahrnehmung
  Schlicht, T., Vetter, P., Thaler, L., & Moss, C. (2013). Wahrnehmung. In A. Stephan, & S. Walter (Eds.), Handbuch Kognitionswissenschaft (472-487). J.B. Metzler

Journal Article

• 6-hour Training in click-based echolocation changes practice in visual impairment professionals
  Thaler, L., Di Gregorio, G., & Foresteire, D. (online). 6-hour Training in click-based echolocation changes practice in visual impairment professionals. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 4, https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2023.1098624
• Sensory Expectations in Human echolocation: Timing, Intensity and Spectrum
  Norman, L., & Thaler, L. Sensory Expectations in Human echolocation: Timing, Intensity and Spectrum. Manuscript submitted for publication
• Changes in primary visual and auditory cortex of blind and sighted adults following 10 weeks of click-based echolocation training
  Norman, L., 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, 34(6), Article bhae239. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae239
• Effects of type of emission and masking sound, and their spatial correspondence, on blind and sighted people’s ability to echolocate
  Thaler, L., Castillo-Serrano, J. G., Kish, D., & Norman, L. (2024). Effects of type of emission and masking sound, and their spatial correspondence, on blind and sighted people’s ability to echolocate. Neuropsychologia, 196, Article 108822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108822
• The occipital place area is recruited for echo-acoustically guided navigation in blind human echolocators
  Norman, L. J., & 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. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1402-22.2023
• Multisensory perception and decision-making with a new sensory skill
  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. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0001114
• Human Echolocators Have Better Localization Off Axis
  Thaler, L., Norman, L., De Vos, H., Kish, D., Antoniou, M., Baker, C., & Hornikx, M. (2022). Human Echolocators Have Better Localization Off Axis. Psychological Science, 33(7), 1143-1153. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976211068070
• Echolocation in people: Humans can learn how to use echolocation, aiding the mobility, independence and wellbeing for people who are partially sighted or blind
  Thaler, L. (2022). Echolocation in people: Humans can learn how to use echolocation, aiding the mobility, independence and wellbeing for people who are partially sighted or blind. Physiology News, 126(Summer 2022), 20-23. https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.126.20
• No effect of 10-week training in click-based echolocation on auditory localization in people who are blind
  Thaler, L., & Norman, L. J. (2021). No effect of 10-week training in click-based echolocation on auditory localization in people who are blind. Experimental Brain Research, 239(12), 3625-3633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-021-06230-5
• Perceptual constancy with a novel sensory skill
  Norman, L. J., & Thaler, L. (2021). Perceptual constancy with a novel sensory skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 47(2), 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000888
• Human click-based echolocation: Effects of blindness and age, and real-life implications in a 10-week training program
  Norman, L. J., 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, 16(6), Article e0252330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252330
• Increased emission intensity can compensate for the presence of noise in human click-based echolocation
  Castillo-Serrano, J., Norman, L., Foresteire, D., & Thaler, L. (2021). Increased emission intensity can compensate for the presence of noise in human click-based echolocation. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 1750. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81220-9
• Navigation and Perception of Spatial Layout in Virtual Echo-Acoustic Space
  Dodsworth, C., Norman, L., & Thaler, L. (2020). Navigation and Perception of Spatial Layout in Virtual Echo-Acoustic Space. Cognition, 197, Article 104185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2020.104185
• The flexible Action System: Click-based Echolocation may replace certain visual Functionality for adaptive Walking
  Thaler, L., Zhang, X., Antoniou, M., Kish, D., & Cowie, D. (2020). 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. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000697
• Stimulus uncertainty affects perception in human echolocation: Timing, level, and spectrum
  Norman, L. J., & Thaler, L. (2020). Stimulus uncertainty affects perception in human echolocation: Timing, level, and spectrum. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 149(12), 2314-2331. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000775
• Sensory Cue Combination in Children Under 10 Years of Age
  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, Article 104014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104014
• Human Click-Based Echolocation of Distance: Superfine Acuity and Dynamic Clicking Behaviour
  Thaler, L., De Vos, H., 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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-019-00728-0
• Retinotopic-like maps of spatial sound in primary 'visual' cortex of blind human echolocators
  Norman, L., & Thaler, L. (2019). Retinotopic-like maps of spatial sound in primary 'visual' cortex of blind human echolocators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1912), Article 20191910. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1910
• Psychophysical and neuroimaging responses to moving stimuli in a patient with the Riddoch phenomenon due to bilateral visual cortex lesions
  Arcaro, M. J., Thaler, L., Quinlan, D. J., Monaco, S., Khan, S., Valyear, K. F., Goebel, R., Dutton, G. N., Goodale, M. A., Kastner, S., & Culham, J. C. (2019). Psychophysical and neuroimaging responses to moving stimuli in a patient with the Riddoch phenomenon due to bilateral visual cortex lesions. Neuropsychologia, 128, 150-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.05.008
• Bayes-Like Integration of a New Sensory Skill with Vision
  Negen, J., Wen, L., Thaler, L., & Nardini, M. (2018). Bayes-Like Integration of a New Sensory Skill with Vision. Scientific Reports, 8, Article 16880. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35046-7
• Human echolocation: 2D shape discrimination using features extracted from acoustic echoes
  Yu, X., Thaler, L., Baker, C., Smith, G., & Zhao, L. (2018). Human echolocation: 2D shape discrimination using features extracted from acoustic echoes. Electronics Letters, 54(12), 785-787. https://doi.org/10.1049/el.2018.0680
• Human echolocation for target detection is more accurate with emissions containing higher spectral frequencies, and this is explained by echo intensity
  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), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041669518776984
• Human Echolocators adjust loudness and number of clicks for detection of reflectors at various azimuth angles
  Thaler, L., De Vos, H., 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 B: Biological Sciences, 285(1873), Article 20172735. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2735
• A selective impairment of perception of sound motion direction in peripheral space: A case study
  Thaler, L., Paciocco, J., Daley, M., Lesniak, G., Purcell, D., Fraser, J., Dutton, G., Rossit, S., Goodale, M., & Culham, J. (2018). A selective impairment of perception of sound motion direction in peripheral space: A case study. Neuropsychologia, 80, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.11.008
• Visual sensory stimulation interferes with people’s ability to echolocate object size
  Thaler, L., & Foresteire, D. (2017). Visual sensory stimulation interferes with people’s ability to echolocate object size. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 13069. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12967-3
• Mouth-Clicks used by Blind Expert Human Echolocators – Signal Description and Model Based Signal Synthesis
  Thaler, L., Reich, G. M., Zhang, X., Wang, D., Smith, G. E., Tao, Z., Abdullah, R. S. A. B. R., Cherniakov, M., Baker, C. J., Kish, D., & Antoniou, M. (2017). Mouth-Clicks used by Blind Expert Human Echolocators – Signal Description and Model Based Signal Synthesis. PLoS Computational Biology, 13(8), Article e1005670. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005670
• Human echolocation: Waveform Analysis of Tongue Clicks
  Zhang, X., Reich, G., Antoniou, M., Cherniakov, M., Baker, C., Thaler, L., Kish, D., & Smith, G. (2017). Human echolocation: Waveform Analysis of Tongue Clicks. Electronics Letters, 53(9), 580-582. https://doi.org/10.1049/el.2017.0454
• Echolocation in humans: an overview
  Thaler, L., & Goodale, M. (2016). Echolocation in humans: an overview. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 7(6), 382-393. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.1408
• People's ability to detect objects using click-based echolocation: A direct comparison between mouth-clicks and clicks made by a loudspeaker
  Thaler, L., & Castillo-Serrano, J. (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), Article e0154868. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154868
• Using Sound to Get Around - Discoveries in Human Echolocation
  Thaler, L. (2015). Using Sound to Get Around - Discoveries in Human Echolocation
• A blind human expert echolocator shows size constancy for objects perceived by echoes
  Milne, J., Anello, M., Goodale, M., & Thaler, L. (2015). A blind human expert echolocator shows size constancy for objects perceived by echoes. Neurocase: The Neural Basis of Cognition, 21(4), 465-470. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2014.922994
• Neural Correlates of Human Echolocation of Path Direction During Walking
  Fiehler, K., Schütz, I., Meller, T., & Thaler, L. (2015). Neural Correlates of Human Echolocation of Path Direction During Walking. Multisensory Research, 28(1-2), 195-226. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134808-00002491
• Parahippocampal cortex is involved in material processing via echoes in blind echolocation experts
  Milne, J., Arnott, S., Kish, D., Goodale, M., & Thaler, L. (2015). Parahippocampal cortex is involved in material processing via echoes in blind echolocation experts. Vision Research, 109(Part B), 139-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2014.07.004
• The role of head movements in the discrimination of 2-D shape by blind echolocation experts
  Milne, J., Goodale, M., & Thaler, L. (2014). The role of head movements in the discrimination of 2-D shape by blind echolocation experts. Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics, 76(6), 1828-1837. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-014-0695-2
• Correlation between vividness of visual imagery and echolocation ability in sighted, echo-naïve people
  Thaler, L., Wilson, R. C., & Gee, B. K. (2014). Correlation between vividness of visual imagery and echolocation ability in sighted, echo-naïve people. Experimental Brain Research, 232(6), 1915-1925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-3883-3
• Neural Correlates of Motion Processing through Echolocation, Source Hearing and Vision in Blind Echolocation Experts and Sighted Echolocation Novices
  Thaler, L., Milne, J., Arnott, S., Kish, D., & Goodale, M. (2014). Neural Correlates of Motion Processing through Echolocation, Source Hearing and Vision in Blind Echolocation Experts and Sighted Echolocation Novices. Journal of Neurophysiology, 111(1), 112-127. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00501.2013
• Echolocation may have real-life advantages for blind people: an analysis of survey data
  Thaler, L. (2013). Echolocation may have real-life advantages for blind people: an analysis of survey data. Frontiers in Physiology, 4, Article 98. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2013.00098
• Shape-specific activation of occipital cortex in an early blind echolocation expert
  Arnott, S., Thaler, L., Milne, J., Kish, D., & Goodale, M. (2013). Shape-specific activation of occipital cortex in an early blind echolocation expert. Neuropsychologia, 51(5), 938-949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.01.024
• What is the best fixation target? The effect of target shape on stability of fixational eye movements
  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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2012.10.012
• Neural substrates of visual spatial coding and visual feedback control for hand movements in allocentric and target-directed tasks
  Thaler, L., & Goodale, M. (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, Article 92. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2011.00092
• Neural correlates of natural human echolocation in early and late blind echolocation experts
  Thaler, L., Arnott, S., & Goodale, M. (2011). Neural correlates of natural human echolocation in early and late blind echolocation experts. PLoS ONE, 6(5), Article e20162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0020162
• Toward an integrated approach to perception and action: conference report and future directions
  Gordon, G., Kaplan, D., Lankow, B., Little, D., Sherwin, J., Suter, B., & Thaler, L. (2011). Toward an integrated approach to perception and action: conference report and future directions. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 5, Article 20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2011.00020
• The role of online visual feedback for the control of target-directed and allocentric hand movements
  Thaler, L., & Goodale, M. (2011). The role of online visual feedback for the control of target-directed and allocentric hand movements. Journal of Neurophysiology, 105(2), 846-859. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00743.2010
• Reaction times for allocentric movements are 35 ms slower than reaction times for target-directed movements
  Thaler, L., & Goodale, M. (2011). Reaction times for allocentric movements are 35 ms slower than reaction times for target-directed movements. Experimental Brain Research, 211(2), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2691-2
• Evidence from visuomotor adaptation for two partially independent visuomotor systems
  Thaler, L., & Todd, J. (2010). Evidence from visuomotor adaptation for two partially independent visuomotor systems. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 36(4), 924-935. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017603
• Beyond distance and direction: the brain represents target locations non-metrically
  Thaler, L., & Goodale, M. (2010). Beyond distance and direction: the brain represents target locations non-metrically. Journal of Vision, 10(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1167/10.3.3
• The perception of 3D shape from texture based on directional width gradients
  Todd, J., & Thaler, L. (2010). The perception of 3D shape from texture based on directional width gradients. Journal of Vision, 10(5), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1167/10.5.17
• The control parameters used by the CNS to guide the hand depend on the visuo-motor task: evidence from visually guided pointing
  Thaler, L., & Todd, J. (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(2), 578-598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.12.038
• The use of head/eye-centered, hand-centered and allocentric representations for visually guided hand movements and perceptual judgments
  Thaler, L., & Todd, J. (2009). The use of head/eye-centered, hand-centered and allocentric representations for visually guided hand movements and perceptual judgments. Neuropsychologia, 47(5), 1227-1244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.12.039
• Illusory bending of a rigidly moving line segment: effects of image motion and smooth pursuit eye movements
  Thaler, L., Todd, J., Spering, M., & Gegenfurtner, K. (2007). Illusory bending of a rigidly moving line segment: effects of image motion and smooth pursuit eye movements. Journal of Vision, 7(6), https://doi.org/10.1167/7.6.9
• The effects of phase on the perception of 3D shape from texture: psychophysics and modeling
  Thaler, L., Todd, J., & Dijkstra, T. (2007). The effects of phase on the perception of 3D shape from texture: psychophysics and modeling. Vision Research, 47(3), 411-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2006.10.007
• The effects of viewing angle, camera angle, and sign of surface curvature on the perception of three-dimensional shape from texture
  Todd, J., Thaler, L., Dijkstra, T., Koenderink, J., & Kappers, A. (2007). The effects of viewing angle, camera angle, and sign of surface curvature on the perception of three-dimensional shape from texture. Journal of Vision, 7(12), https://doi.org/10.1167/7.12.9
• The effects of field of view on the perception of 3D slant from texture
  Todd, J., Thaler, L., & Dijkstra, T. (2005). The effects of field of view on the perception of 3D slant from texture. Vision Research, 45(12), 1501-1517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2005.01.003