Walking in a straight line with a blindfold and earmuffs on!

[Mafia Chicky]

Hey so im currently doing a science fair project that tests the myth,
is it possible to walk a straight line with a blindfold and earmuffs on?
However i'm kind of stuck and am looking for some help!!
I know that the vestibular apparatus inside of your ear has a lot to do with your balance, and that is likely what makes you tilt and walk off course. So without your sight, you would be unable to see and correct any mistakes in direction.
But why do earmuffs come into the experiment? What is their purpose?
Please feel free to provide me with some input if you know about this area of investigation im in! smile
It would be greatly appreciated!!

[DXnobodyX]

Earmuffs just block out another sense, good hearing can usually replace a vision space reference for the blind. Thus best just to cover them both. Not to mention a lot of cranial nerves pass through the general area aswell.

[Shaviv]

As noted, the sound of your footsteps is relevant to directing yourself.

It is entirely possible to walk a straight line while blindfolded and ear-muffled. It's pretty easy, really, even for a clumsy guy like me. It's not quite the same thing, but I regularly walk down the street with my eyes closed, only opening them for a fraction of a second every few paces, if the sunlight is otherwise too bright.

[Golden Dysprosium]

Mafia Chicky

Hey so im currently doing a science fair project that tests the myth,
is it possible to walk a straight line with a blindfold and earmuffs on?

Yes, thanks to the wonder that is proprioception:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception

Quote:

So without your sight, you would be unable to see and correct any mistakes in direction.

If you know where your feet are relative in position with one another, and you can line them up properly, you can easily walk in a straight line; just look at how supermodels walk.

Quote:

But why do earmuffs come into the experiment? What is their purpose?

Balance is co-ordinated in your head, with the fluid inside your ears being one of the main control points, along with your proprioceptive ablility and (if I remember correctly) your joints.

my profs notes

The sensory systems that contribute to maintenance are visual, vestibular and somatosensory
(i.e., Proprioception)
These three are considered to be the sensory triad of postural control
No single sense directly determines the position of the body’s COG
Visual and somatosensory systems gather information from the environment
Vestibular provides information about the head’s orientation in space

The vestibular system is your "ear-balance" while somatosensory is your "where am I" system. Removing two of the three is a major blow to a person's system. A better experiment would be to just have them sit 'muffed and blindfolded for a few minutes, then get them to walk the line.

Some people, however, simply cannot walk in a straight line, regardless of sensory perception or soberness. This is almost always due to some kind of physical dysfunction like scoliosis, which is a lateral curvature of the spine. This is a problem, since the spine normally needs a front/back (kyphosis/lordosis) curve and having it curve out to the side won't really help that delicate balance.

[DXnobodyX]

Golden Dysprosium

This is a problem, since the spine normally needs a front/back (kyphosis/lordosis) curve and having it curve out to the side won't really help that delicate balance.

What are you talking about, this persons fine XD

[Scarlet Flandre]

Mafia Chicky

is it possible to walk a straight line with a blindfold and earmuffs on?

Short answer: yes.

[Tranquil Surrogate]

I was expecting this to be a personified metaphor for religion.

[Dr Dimari]

Yes its possible, but its very hard. We rely so heavy on our sight to control many of our day to day tasks. The cerebellum is the smart little guy behind all of our intricate motions and takes the information from the motor cortex, the command centre in the frontal lobe, the proprioception from all our joints, the balance coordinates from our vestibular system, and has a direct link to the eyes via the brainstem rather than occipital cortex.

With the fact we use our eyes so much more, and we learnt to walk with our eyes being the major factor, it can be hard, but its not impossible, because you have the other systems in place. Lets not us forget tactile sensation in the feet to help you walk correctly. Those who are diabetic and have peripheral neuropathy can fail at walking with their eyes covered. I have seen in it clinic!

The ears would have been covered make the study valid. Hearing probably can help you walk effectively in that you can listen to footsteps and hear the pattern of air movement around you. But, to be honest they play quite a small part in controlling the smooth coordination of walking.

[Ryu Kei Shou Kawazu]

Tranquil Surrogate

I was expecting this to be a personified metaphor for religion.

then how did you get here in the science and technology forum? emotion_awesome You were walking with a blindfold and earmuffs on weren't you?

[Ginger_Octoberist]

Personally I end up looking like a drunk person. But yes, it is entirely possible.

[Mendokuse92]

Mythbusters did something about this didn't they? And if memory serves they could not walk or swim in anything near a straight line.

[Sneaker Pimps]

Now I want to try this. 4laugh

[Ryu Kei Shou Kawazu]

Mendokuse92

Mythbusters did something about this didn't they? And if memory serves they could not walk or swim in anything near a straight line.

well mythbusters also prooved subliminal messages,then they said it was 'busted' rather than plausible.

[Mendokuse92]

Ryu Kei Shou Kawazu

Mendokuse92

Mythbusters did something about this didn't they? And if memory serves they could not walk or swim in anything near a straight line.

well mythbusters also prooved subliminal messages,then they said it was 'busted' rather than plausible.

Despite the fact that they could not get anyone to do what they wanted using subliminal messaging? Proving a Myth wrong makes the myth "Busted"