It would have been interesting to first do the tests with the man wearing a blindfold. That would have indicated whether the effect was likely to be due to alternative visual pathways or to other non-eye-related senses.

Inge Jones, London, UK

To Rev Matt - your question "why are we here" presupposes a superstitious answer. There really doesn't have to be a reason. It's just chance, however emotionally unsatisfying this may be for you.

Paul Howland, Wassenaar, The Netherlands

Nigel: He cannot do it while blindfolded. "Blindsight" occurs when the eyes are undamaged, as is the lower visual cortex, but the information never makes it to phenomenal consciousness due to a lesion in the brain. So, while his eyes work, he has no experience of seeing.

James, New York, USA

When I was a young lad, and ready to believe quite a lot, I read an article which by coincidence, I found again in modern form only recently!

http://www.answers.com/topic/eyeless-sight

Fascinating subject!

Mike Armitage, Cranbrook, UK

can he repeat the trick when blindfolded?

if he cannot, then obviously some information is reaching his working brain from his eyes, whether he is aware of it or not.

conversely if he can then we must be talking "paranormal". Its a shame that the article does not tell us more about this.

nigel foster, ryde, uk

Rev Harkin, we're here because a random sequnece of cosmic events first led to life emerging on Earth, and then consequent evolutionary parths and further destructive events led to the development of Humans as the dominant species. See? Science has an explination for that too.

Gareth, London,

Nothing explains why we are here any better than science, Rev Matt. Explanations involving the existence of some spirit or super-being simply make the problem unnecessarily harder to solve - as you have to explain how an infinitely more complex entity got here first.

Rob, Reading, UK

Rev Matt. Are you actually denying alternative visual processing capabilities in the brain? Are you really positing this man's 'spirit' as an explanation for his abilities? Because if you are the scientists interested in this field may as well go home and have a good old pray.

George, La Rochelle, France

Science only has one explanation for anything to do with the human system's development: Luck.

They make the issue sound plausible by adding 'natural selection' but that only describes the success of some lucky flukes and the failures of others! How can they explain anything like TN? 'He's lucky.'

iain, bedford, uk

rev matt - are you suggesting that science is unable to explain why we are here? are you familiar with the scientific concept of evolution by natural selection? Or maybe you are looking for a non-scientific reason - in which case you should not be surprised that science does not provide it!

James Fletcher, London,

Phil is right - although this person's visual cortex seems to have been disabled his brain is still processing information from the eyes and optic nerve which still work. It shows what a marvel the brain is and wonder at that is the spiritual part.

John , Wellington, United Kingdom

Rev. Matt - Why does there need to be a reason for us to be here? To ask for such a reason is a luxury afforded by our ability to do so. Science explains the 'how' and not the 'why'. A 'how' question is global, a 'why' question is local and subject to personal interpretation.

George, Kent,

Was the guy allowed to speak while negotiating the maze? I noticed that I can tell by sound if there is a wall in front of me in the dark when I speak. The unenquiring attitude of this article and the attempt to "magic up" the issue with "blindsight" (wowee!) is a variety of "sexing up".

Steve Bush, Cirencester, UK

Rev. Matt, if you only have science then there we have no PURPOSE save that we have been allowed to form as life from a primordial soup via the laws of physics. The process of natural evolution (governed by physics) is the REASON we are here. You can choose your purpose but not the reason for life

Fiendo, belfast,

In fact, not only has this person got functioning eyes, he even has functioning subcortical visual centres - its only visual cortex that is damaged. It is visual pathway through cortex that is associated with "conscious perception". No spirituality needed.

Simon, London,

Did they find that he couldn't navigate if blindfolded, just to make sure that it was infornmation received by his eyes that allowed him to navigate the course?

James Mursell, Pulborough,

Perhaps people's emotionality is transmitting more than just visual facial expressions.

David, Pemberton, Canada

You should not be so cynical Matt. If science was the only explanation for anything, then why are we here?

Rev. Matt Harkin, London, UK

He has brain damage which has resulted in a severe limitation of his sight. He is not blind, but is severely "visually impaired". His use of unusual nervous pathways is not in any way paranormal.

Brian Jordan, Huddersfield,

Sorry to be a doubter, Thomas, but remember this guy still has functioning eyes. It's only the visual centre in his brain that's missing. Remarkable?: yes. Spiritual?: not really.

Phil Cohen, Sydney, Australia

Thomas, this is the science section, not the superstition section!

Matt, Blackpool, UK

Remember, man has more than just the physical body; he as a spirit. Whilst this man's physical eyes are blind, his spirit is not.

Thomas Nyahwo, Wigan, UK