The research of American neuroscientist David Eagleman demonstrates that the human brain can be trained to use one sensory modality to supply information typically gathered by another, such as using touch to “see” or “hear.”
Not only does sensory substitution auger well for people with disabilities such as blindness or hearing loss, it suggests that we may eventually be able to augment our sensory experience to include capabilities humans currently lack, potentially providing a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of our environment.