A recent gif image has been circulating where individual can report hearing a “thud” sound with the image, despite there being no sound. The convergence of visual and auditory events is not new and researchers believe that the visually-evoked auditory responses (VEAR) are more common than previously thought.
Other types of synaesthesias are estimated to have an overall prevalence of 4.4 percent; however, recent work published in the journal Cortex estimated the prevalence of VEAR to 21 percent. To do so the researchers carried out a large-scale online study (n=4128) with a survey that included 24 silent video clips similar to the “thud gif.” They observed that those reporting “yes” to hearing sounds were more likely to report tinnitus or musical imagery.
Reference
Fassnidge CJ, Freeman ED. (2018) Sounds from seeing silent motion: Who hears them, and what looks loudest? Cortex.
Recent Posts
Where Audiology Comes Together: Join Us for AAA 2027 in St. Louis
Every year, the AAA Annual Convention brings the audiology community together to learn, connect, and move the profession forward. From April 7–10, 2027, that tradition…
CMS Releases Calendar Year 2027 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule late on July 14, 2026, reducing the PFS…
Vestibular Exercises May Improve Outcomes in Those with Intracerebral Hemorrhage
In a recent article study by Killedar and Kanase (2026), effects of vestibular stimulation exercises were analyzed in individuals with intracerebral hemorrhage. This study randomly…
