How using sound to ‘see’ affects balance and stability

Jenn Hoskins
9th December, 2025

How using sound to ‘see’ affects balance and stability

The experimental design used an automated reflective target within a semi-anechoic chamber to create various acoustic echo conditions (a–c), while measuring the effect on postural stability by tracking the body's Center of Pressure and Center of Mass (d).

Image adapted from: Chouk et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • This study, conducted in France, investigated how hearing—specifically perceiving echoes—influences balance while standing
  • Participants showed better balance when an object’s echoes indicated it was moving towards them, suggesting auditory input aids stability
  • The study didn’t find a direct link between how well participants perceived the object and how stable they were, hinting at unconscious postural adjustments
Maintaining balance relies on a complex interplay of senses, primarily vision, the vestibular system (inner ear), and proprioception (awareness of body position)[2]. These systems work together to create an internal representation of the body and its surroundings, allowing us to stay upright and react to changes in our environment. However, the role of hearing in this process has been largely overlooked. Researchers at CHU Caen investigated whether auditory information, specifically the perception of echoes, influences our ability to maintain balance. The study addressed a gap in our understanding of postural control – how different sensory inputs contribute to stability. Existing models of balance primarily focus on visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular information, with little consideration given to the auditory system. Previous research has yielded inconsistent results, potentially due to variations in experimental methods.[3] highlighted the vital interaction between the visual and vestibular systems in differentiating self-motion from external motion, crucial for postural stability. This new study aimed to determine if echoes could provide additional information relevant to this process. Eleven participants, all with normal hearing and wearing blindfolds to eliminate visual input, were tested in a sound-isolated room. An automated device was used to create controlled echoes, simulating a reflective object. This object was either stationary, or moved towards or away from the participants. Researchers used optoelectronic cameras to track body movements (kinematic analysis) and a force plate to measure shifts in weight distribution (kinetic analysis). After each trial, participants reported what they perceived about the object – whether it was present, its location, direction of movement, and distance. The results showed that participants were better at perceiving the object’s presence and movement when it was moving towards them, compared to when it was stationary. Importantly, participants also demonstrated greater postural stability during these dynamic conditions. This suggests that the auditory system, through echo perception, can contribute to our ability to maintain balance. However, the study did not find a direct correlation between how well participants perceived the object and how stable they were. This finding is interesting because it suggests that the brain may be using auditory information to unconsciously adjust posture, rather than relying on a conscious perception of the object’s location.[4] noted that postural control operates on different levels – a tonic level maintaining general posture, and an equilibrium level responding to disturbances. The auditory input may be influencing the equilibrium level, providing subtle adjustments to maintain stability without requiring conscious awareness. The study’s findings support the idea that the auditory system is another source of sensory information integrated into the postural control system. While[3] focused on the visual-vestibular interaction, this research expands that understanding to include auditory input. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between auditory perception and postural stability, and to determine how the brain integrates this information with other sensory inputs.

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References

Main Study

1) Audition and balance: The impact of echolocation on postural control

Published 8th December, 2025

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330943

Related Studies

2) Postural control system.

Journal: Current opinion in neurobiology, Issue: Vol 4, Issue 6, Dec 1994

3) The Differentiation of Self-Motion From External Motion Is a Prerequisite for Postural Control: A Narrative Review of Visual-Vestibular Interaction.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.697739


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