Telepathy

Telepathy was the psychic ability to sense and manipulate thought, which often manifested as mind-to-mind communication. The term could also be used to describe and was often linked to mind-control and certain types of hypnosis.

Telepathy could take varied forms: from an exchange of images, experiences (DW: The Three Doctors), to associated emotions and even mind-to-mind "conversation" between two or more individuals (BFA: Worldwide Web). However it was possible for a skilled telepath to monitor the minds of others without being detected. Some species and individuals could use their telepathy at a distance, but some needed to be in close proximity and others needed to touch the subject they wished to "read". Time Lords, for example, tended to be touch-telepaths, but weren't always limited in this fashion.

The Tenth Doctor using touch telepathy on Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson. (DW: The Girl in the Fireplace)

Telepathy was a more fully-developed mental ability than empathy, which simply allowed an individual to sense the emotions of another.

TARDISes such as the Doctor's Type 40 had telepathic abilities through dedicated systems known as Telepathic circuits. Among other functions, these translated any language for the passengers.

A rare mineral known as Matricite could block telepathy. (PDA: Synthespians™)

On Yemaya 4 in 2257 several human colonists developed telepathic and telekinetic abilities. (NA: Sleepy)

The Doctor used a headbutt to telepathically give his general backround information to Craig in order to explain why he was there. (To those watching the information being passed, random visuals from the Doctor's past lives were shown). (DW: The Lodger)

Telepathic species

• Gallifreyans (including Time Lords) (DW: The Sensorites)
  • The Master Race (DW: The End of Time)
• Sensorites (DW: The Sensorites)
• Humans (DW: Planet of the Spiders, The Face of Evil, NA: Sleepy)
• Eight Legs (DW: Planet of the Spiders)
• The Xhinn (PDA: Amorality Tale)
• Eternals (DW: Enlightenment)
• Psychic Worms (BFA: The Wormery)
• Kitlings (DW: Survival)
• Cheetah People (DW: Survival)
• Boekind (DW: New Earth)
• Weevils (TW: Combat)
• Arcateenians (TW: Greeks Bearing Gifts, SJA: Invasion of the Bane)
• The Ood (DW: The Impossible Planet, The Satan Pit)
• Vespiforms (DW: The Unicorn and the Wasp)
• Silurians (DW: The Silurians/Warriors of the Deep)
• Haemovores (DW: The Curse of Fenric)
• Osirians (DW: Pyramids of Mars)
• Nestenes (DW: Spearhead from Space/Terror of the Autons/Rose)
• Bodach (K9TV: Dream-Eaters)

Individuals with Telepathic ability

• Susan Foreman (DW: The Sensorites)
• The Doctor (DW: Fear Her, The Girl in the Fireplace, The Eleventh Hour, The Lodger, The Big Bang)
• Timothy Latimer (DW: Human Nature, The Family of Blood)
• Carmen (DW: Planet of the Dead)
• Luke Smith (SJA: The Lost Boy)
• Gwyneth (DW: The Unquiet Dead)
• Face of Boe (DW: New Earth, Gridlock)
• Ood Elder (DW: The End of Time)

Devices to facilitate telepathy

• Telepathic circuits
• Telepathic recorder
• IRIS Machine (DW: Planet of the Spiders)
• Telepathy pendant (TW: Greeks Bearing Gifts)

See also

• Telepathic contact