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Bradk3 · 7th July 2006, 11:22 AM

Dogdoctor's post here: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...33#post1751033 got me thinking about a phenomenon my coworker told me about once.

He claimed that it is possible to temporarily make someone speechless by repeating their words back to them almost immediately. Apparently, the person's brain is unable to cope with hearing their own words like this and is rendered speechless and unable to talk for a few moments.

I find the idea fascinating, but I'm not sure I entirely trust him on this one (he's not a pathalogical liar or anything, just, erm, creative with the facts). I've searched, but haven't been able to find any information on this.

Is there anyone here who knows what I'm talking about and can enlighten me?

TobiasTheViking · 7th July 2006, 11:27 AM

Total woo. The only thing that will happen is that the other party will get confused and lost in his or her tracks, and will have to spend a little time to remember what (s)he was saying.

roger · 7th July 2006, 11:31 AM

Just test it. You'll find it doesn't work.

Dymanic · 7th July 2006, 11:48 AM

I can report that I have a very difficult time talking when I can hear the echo of my own voice on a delay of about a second or so. This occasionally happens when I'm talking on the phone, for reasons I assume have something to do with the equipment in use on the other end. I can adjust to it, but it takes some effort.

Mercutio · 7th July 2006, 12:00 PM

If it's the right person, her saying anything to me could render me speechless.

A good experiment must control for such things...

Soapy Sam · 7th July 2006, 02:20 PM

There's speechless and there's unable to speak.

I find the best way to render someone unable to speak is a hard punch to the solar plexus.

Chris Haynes · 7th July 2006, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bradk3

...He claimed that it is possible to temporarily make someone speechless by repeating their words back to them almost immediately. Apparently, the person's brain is unable to cope with hearing their own words like this and is rendered speechless and unable to talk for a few moments.
...?

Actually I believe someone is rendered speechless when they realize they are speaking to someone acting like an 8-year-old brat.

RSLancastr · 7th July 2006, 03:39 PM

... like an 8-year-old brat.

Dogdoctor · 7th July 2006, 07:31 PM

I never made any such claim. Read what I wrote. It makes some people loose track of what they are saying.

Editted to add: Sorry but I missread what you wrote Hydrogen Cyanide pointed it out to me

kevin · 7th July 2006, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dymanic

This occasionally happens when I'm talking on the phone, for reasons I assume have something to do with the equipment in use on the other end. I can adjust to it, but it takes some effort.

interesting article (to me at least) about echo in phone systems. even occurs in digital systems.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8424

and i don't think repeating someone's words back to them is necessary, just say ANYTHING a second or two behind someone and they'll usually stop talking for a second. Keep it up and someone mysteriously gets a bloody nose.

Dogdoctor · 7th July 2006, 07:41 PM

A way to check for an effect would be to set up a half second delay recording system so that whatever you say comes back to you delayed a little from when you say it. This could also be observed on live radio. Some people talking on live radio with their radios on have difficulty talking because they hear the sound delayed in time to when they are saying it. Some people have no problem with it.

Chris Haynes · 7th July 2006, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

I never made any such claim. Read what I wrote. It makes some people loose track of what they are saying.

? huh ? ... I believe Brad3k was referring to something his coworker said, not you. Your post just reminded him of it, and I had not even looked at it when I made my comment.

It just has not been that long ago that I did have an 8-year-old who would be a brat and repeat her brothers (and when they were younger, her brothers did the same thing).

Chris Haynes · 7th July 2006, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide

...It just has not been that long ago that I did have an 8-year-old who would be a brat and repeat her brothers (and when they were younger, her brothers did the same thing).

Just noticed this same child (who is now 12) is wearing a shirt that says "I'm happy. Don't ruin it by talking."

Kaarjuus · 8th July 2006, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

A way to check for an effect would be to set up a half second delay recording system so that whatever you say comes back to you delayed a little from when you say it. This could also be observed on live radio. Some people talking on live radio with their radios on have difficulty talking because they hear the sound delayed in time to when they are saying it. Some people have no problem with it.

Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is used in some devices for people who stutter. Experiments have shown that it significantly reduces stuttering (up to 70%).

So, no, it doesn't make people speechless.

Beady · 8th July 2006, 05:58 AM

Just watch reruns of "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" They frequently do this in their games; no one gets speechless, just frustrated.

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 8th July 2006, 06:03 AM

WhaWht atdiddid yoyou ussayay?

~~ Paul

Beady · 8th July 2006, 06:10 AM

Yeah, like that.

Dogdoctor · 8th July 2006, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Kaarjuus

Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is used in some devices for people who stutter. Experiments have shown that it significantly reduces stuttering (up to 70%).

So, no, it doesn't make people speechless.

In this case people would be using it over and over again. This says nothing about the initial effect.

Boo · 8th July 2006, 10:52 AM

A stroke in the speech center of the brain will render some one speechless. Just saying.

Boo

7th July 2006, 11:22 AM	#1
Bradk3 Thinker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Around here... somewhere. Posts: 205	Induced speechlessness? Dogdoctor's post here: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...33#post1751033 got me thinking about a phenomenon my coworker told me about once. He claimed that it is possible to temporarily make someone speechless by repeating their words back to them almost immediately. Apparently, the person's brain is unable to cope with hearing their own words like this and is rendered speechless and unable to talk for a few moments. I find the idea fascinating, but I'm not sure I entirely trust him on this one (he's not a pathalogical liar or anything, just, erm, creative with the facts). I've searched, but haven't been able to find any information on this. Is there anyone here who knows what I'm talking about and can enlighten me?

7th July 2006, 11:27 AM	#2
TobiasTheViking Resident Viking Autist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: With your mother Posts: 6,923	Total woo. The only thing that will happen is that the other party will get confused and lost in his or her tracks, and will have to spend a little time to remember what (s)he was saying.
	__________________ He pricked me with his prick that prick - NobbyNobbs Endearingly Obnoxious - Rebecca Watson

7th July 2006, 11:48 AM	#4
Dymanic Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,810	I can report that I have a very difficult time talking when I can hear the echo of my own voice on a delay of about a second or so. This occasionally happens when I'm talking on the phone, for reasons I assume have something to do with the equipment in use on the other end. I can adjust to it, but it takes some effort.
Dymanic Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 4,810

7th July 2006, 12:00 PM	#5
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	If it's the right person, her saying anything to me could render me speechless. A good experiment must control for such things...
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

7th July 2006, 02:20 PM	#6
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,907	There's speechless and there's unable to speak. I find the best way to render someone unable to speak is a hard punch to the solar plexus.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,907

7th July 2006, 11:31 AM	#3
roger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 11,062	Just test it. You'll find it doesn't work.

7th July 2006, 02:51 PM	#7
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,214	Originally Posted by Bradk3 ...He claimed that it is possible to temporarily make someone speechless by repeating their words back to them almost immediately. Apparently, the person's brain is unable to cope with hearing their own words like this and is rendered speechless and unable to talk for a few moments. ...? Actually I believe someone is rendered speechless when they realize they are speaking to someone acting like an 8-year-old brat.
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/

7th July 2006, 03:39 PM	#8
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 15,644	... like an 8-year-old brat.
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

7th July 2006, 07:31 PM	#9
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 14,329	I never made any such claim. Read what I wrote. It makes some people loose track of what they are saying. Editted to add: Sorry but I missread what you wrote Hydrogen Cyanide pointed it out to me
	__________________ Last edited by Dogdoctor; 7th July 2006 at 07:48 PM.

7th July 2006, 07:40 PM	#10
kevin Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,666	Originally Posted by Dymanic This occasionally happens when I'm talking on the phone, for reasons I assume have something to do with the equipment in use on the other end. I can adjust to it, but it takes some effort. interesting article (to me at least) about echo in phone systems. even occurs in digital systems. http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8424 and i don't think repeating someone's words back to them is necessary, just say ANYTHING a second or two behind someone and they'll usually stop talking for a second. Keep it up and someone mysteriously gets a bloody nose.
kevin Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,666	__________________ Long story short, if you wanna get famous, it helps if you're taking a dump. -- RealityBites

7th July 2006, 07:41 PM	#11
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 14,329	A way to check for an effect would be to set up a half second delay recording system so that whatever you say comes back to you delayed a little from when you say it. This could also be observed on live radio. Some people talking on live radio with their radios on have difficulty talking because they hear the sound delayed in time to when they are saying it. Some people have no problem with it.
	__________________

7th July 2006, 07:42 PM	#12
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,214	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor I never made any such claim. Read what I wrote. It makes some people loose track of what they are saying. ? huh ? ... I believe Brad3k was referring to something his coworker said, not you. Your post just reminded him of it, and I had not even looked at it when I made my comment. It just has not been that long ago that I did have an 8-year-old who would be a brat and repeat her brothers (and when they were younger, her brothers did the same thing).
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/

7th July 2006, 08:21 PM	#13
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,214	Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide ...It just has not been that long ago that I did have an 8-year-old who would be a brat and repeat her brothers (and when they were younger, her brothers did the same thing). Just noticed this same child (who is now 12) is wearing a shirt that says "I'm happy. Don't ruin it by talking."
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/

8th July 2006, 05:46 AM	#14
Kaarjuus Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 252	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor A way to check for an effect would be to set up a half second delay recording system so that whatever you say comes back to you delayed a little from when you say it. This could also be observed on live radio. Some people talking on live radio with their radios on have difficulty talking because they hear the sound delayed in time to when they are saying it. Some people have no problem with it. Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is used in some devices for people who stutter. Experiments have shown that it significantly reduces stuttering (up to 70%). So, no, it doesn't make people speechless.
Kaarjuus Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 252

8th July 2006, 05:58 AM	#15
Beady Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 44:57:19N, 73:16:18W Posts: 5,495	Just watch reruns of "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" They frequently do this in their games; no one gets speechless, just frustrated.
	__________________ I tolerate with utmost latitude the right of others to differ with me in opinion without imputing to them criminality. I know too well all the weaknesses and uncertainty of human reason to wonder at its different results. -- Thomas Jefferson I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. -- Thomas Jefferson

8th July 2006, 06:03 AM	#16
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,631	WhaWht atdiddid yoyou ussayay? ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

8th July 2006, 06:10 AM	#17
Beady Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 44:57:19N, 73:16:18W Posts: 5,495	Yeah, like that.
	__________________ I tolerate with utmost latitude the right of others to differ with me in opinion without imputing to them criminality. I know too well all the weaknesses and uncertainty of human reason to wonder at its different results. -- Thomas Jefferson I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. -- Thomas Jefferson

8th July 2006, 10:42 AM	#18
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 14,329	Originally Posted by Kaarjuus Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is used in some devices for people who stutter. Experiments have shown that it significantly reduces stuttering (up to 70%). So, no, it doesn't make people speechless. In this case people would be using it over and over again. This says nothing about the initial effect.
	__________________

8th July 2006, 10:52 AM	#19
Boo ts Join Date: May 2003 Location: state of chaos Posts: 3,743	A stroke in the speech center of the brain will render some one speechless. Just saying. Boo
	__________________ Wounds heal. Morally Obtuse. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.