Theory:Telepathy

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The following fan theories are about telepathy.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Telepathy could extend to incorporate aspects of Mental manipulation.	Bob claims that Matt can manipulate any of the functions of the brain (Out of Time)	+ Memories are kept in the brain. + Abilities are also thought to be centered in the brain, meaning that it is possible that Matt might be able to manipulate someone's brain to "forget" how their ability works. + Arthur made Angela forget he planned to kill Nathan and made Hiro think he's ten years old. - Telepathy is only communications through thoughts, i.e. hearing another's thoughts, not controlling or changing them.
Telepathy could extend to incorporate aspects of Illusion.	None.	+ Maury was able to sneak into a Company facility undetected. + Maury was able to fool Niki into thinking that she saw D.L. - Niki saw D.L. as a result of Maury's power. + Maury was able to trap Matt and Nathan in elaborate illusionary environments similar to Candice's. - Candice doesn't just fool people's senses, she actually looks and sounds like whoever she's disguised as. • This is subjective, because the way someone looks and sounds depends on the viewer's senses of sight and hearing respectively. - Sylar, while using Candice's ability in Five Years Gone is able to fool cameras and recording equipment. Since these machines don't have brains, it is unlikely that Maury could do the same. - We don't know it was Candice's ability he was using. + But the theory states that it could incorporate aspects of Illusion, not the whole power. • Maury was able to make Daphne and Nathan think they saw and heard Linderman. However, it would seem Maury had to stay out of sight. + Matt was able to trick Knox with an illusion making him think he'd killed him and Daphne. Plus Maury was able to project an illusion of Linderman. - Telepathy is only communications through thoughts, i.e. hearing another's thoughts, not controlling or changing them.
Telepathy could extend to incorporate aspects of Dream manipulation.	Bob claims that Matt can manipulate any of the functions of the brain. (Out of Time)	+ If Maury can manipulate the brain by putting in 'nightmares', then Matt could delve into the brain and manipulate a dream. + Arthur somehow used his telepathy to trap Angela when she was in one of her precognitive dreams before Matt rescued her. - Telepathy is only communications through thoughts, i.e. hearing another's thoughts, not controlling or changing them.
Telepathy could extend to incorporate aspects of Bliss and horror.	Bob says that like his father, Matt can manipulate people's actions. (Out of Time)	+ Maury created similar sensations to these during the "raid" on his apartment by Nathan and Matt. While he may not be able to create the emotions themselves, he can certainly create a mental scenario which leads to them, which is essentially the same conclusion. - Telepathy is only communications through thoughts, i.e. hearing another's thoughts, not controlling or changing them.
Telepathy may be, more so then most powers, a corruptive influence on the user.	Angela says to Matt: "If you take this secret from me, you're not just like your father. You are him!"	+ Maury and Future Matt were both noticeably dark individuals. Matt has certainly become more like them as the show progresses, ripping out and implanting thoughts as his power develops, plus trapping Maury in his own nightmare (a very Biblical form of revenge). This trend of using his powers to get what he wants may continue as his powers grow. - Matt trapped Maury in his nightmare but it was really the only way to defeat him without giving him the Shanti Virus and was thus somewhat more humane as it wouldn't kill him. Also Matt has only used his powers to implant thoughts and things like that for a good cause and not to harm anyone like Future Matt and Maury do. + The temptation to wield potentially absolute control over a person's actions would be very strong and hard to resist for anyone. It has already had, in a fairly brief timespan, a large impact on Matt who is a kind individual at heart.
Telepathy could extend to mimicking/nulling/etc. abilities.	Bob claims that Matt can manipulate any of the functions of the brain (Out of Time)	+ If it can control anything the brain controls, and the brain controls abilities, telepathy may be able to control abilities. - Telepathy is only communications through thoughts, i.e. hearing another's thoughts, not controlling or changing them. + This has been disproven several times on the show. Telepaths can create illusions, control the thoughts of others, and erase memories.
Telepathy, Mental manipulation, & Ability Suppression should be considered separate abilities.	None.	+ The definition of telepathy is communication from one mind to another (i.e. hearing another's thoughts). Thus telepathy would have nothing to do with control over another's mind. Mental Manipulation would be the ability to CHANGE or CONTROL the thoughts of another person, or block or erase memories, or anything else in their mind, etc. One could have Telepathy by itself, if they are not able to control another's mind (which is what it appeared Matt had before he demonstrated the abilitiy to control another's thoughts). Matt, Maury (before he was killed), The Haitian, and Arthur appear to have the ability of Mental Manipulation. The Haitian's ability of "Ability Suppression" should be a separate ability in itself, and not part of Mental Manipulation, because it appears to be a passive ability in which he does not control another's thoughts, i.e. he does not manipulate another person mentally (therefore NOT Mental Manipulation).