Examples of telepathy

Telepathy is the ability to to mentally control functions of the brain. A full list of examples of the power in action follows.

Season One

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Matt reads Molly Walker's mind at the scene of her parents' murders. (Don't Look Back) Matt overhears Audrey thinking the name Sylar. (Don't Look Back) Matt verbally answers his wife's thoughts that she wants Matt to leave. (One Giant Leap) Matt listens to bar patrons' thoughts (but passes out when concentrating on the Haitian). (One Giant Leap) When Matt is being tested by Mr. Bennet, he manages to read one word of his thoughts: "Claire". (Collision) Matt uses his powers to plan the perfect date with his wife. (Hiros) The officer stops a would-be convenience store robber by reading his mind, only to be overcome by the terrified thoughts of others. (Hiros) Matt telepathically uncovers the affair between his wife and his partner. (Nothing to Hide) Matt defuses a tense situation with a potential killer by reading his comatose wife's thoughts. (Nothing to Hide) Matt chases down an armed robber by reading his thoughts. (Control) Matt interrogates an easily agitated Ted with the aid of his power. (Seven Minutes to Midnight) Matt presumably reads his first thought: "Hero". (Six Months Ago) Peter copies Matt's power, and they read each other's minds. The telepathy mimicry also creates a disturbing feedback loop between the two men. (Fallout) Blocked by the Haitian, Matt only hears a "silence" and "static" when trying to read Claire's mind at the Odessa Sheriff's Department. (Fallout) Matt listens to Audrey mentally musing, "He's cute." (Fallout) Matt struggles to pick up a single word — "Sylar" — from Mr. Bennet's thoughts, despite the Haitian's interference. (Fallout) Matt uses his powers to guide his answers during a police hearing. (The Fix) Janice playfully tests Matt's powers by having him guess what she's thinking. (The Fix) Peter overloads on his multitude of powers, including telepathy. (Distractions) In Matt's car, Matt hears Aron Malsky think, "Hope this loser knows how to use his gun. Otherwise, we're both dead." (Run!) Matt's power enable him to learn the location of Aron's diamonds. (Run!) Matt overhears a conversation between Niki and Jessica. (Run!) Matt hears the thoughts of Claire, Mr. Bennet, and Ted Sprague during the invasion of the Bennets' home. (Company Man) Matt confirms Mr. Bennet telling the truth during a conversation he had with Thompson. (Parasite) Matt listens to Mr. Bennet's thoughts in his cell, receiving instructions on how to organize an escape from Primatech Paper Co. (.07%) Future Matt interrogates Hiro to find out his plans, but cannot find any memories of the past five years. (Five Years Gone) Future Matt finds the location of Future Claire from Future Bennet. (Five Years Gone) Matt reads Peter's mind to convince Ted that Peter's telling the truth. (Landslide) Peter hears Sylar's thoughts about Ted's ability. (Landslide) Matt uses his ability to convince a guard to let himself and Mr. Bennet through security. (Landslide) Matt hears Thompson's thoughts on killing Mr. Bennet, preventing Bennet's death. (Landslide) Peter hears Claire thinking he lied to her. (How to Stop an Exploding Man) Peter hears Nathan thinking the bomb cannot be prevented and everyone will die. (How to Stop an Exploding Man) Matt hears Molly calling out for help. Matt listens to his wife's wishes. Matt practices listening to bar patrons, including a lonely woman with thoughts of "disappearing". Matt's attempts to read Mr. Bennet's mind show wild brainwave fluctuations. Matt uses his power to prepare the perfect dinner for his wife. Matt is overcome by the mental cacophony in the convenience store. Matt learns of Janice's affair telepathically. Matt hears Karen Sprague's dying thoughts. Matt overhears Tom McHenry's thoughts in the precinct locker room. Officer Parkman's police work is aided by his power. The telepathic officer interviews Ted at FBI Headquarters. Peter and Matt experience a disturbing feedback loop. Matt tries to read Claire's mind, but only hears an absence of sound and a static. Audrey thinks Matt is cute--and Matt hears it. Matt's intense telepathic concentration results in a single word — and a nosebleed. Janice tests her husbands ability by thinking of red elephants with blue stripes and of the ratty curtains in their old apartment. Matt faces disciplinary action, but uses his secret skill to guide his responses. Matt telepathically learns that he's having a baby. Peter mimics the ability to read minds. Matt hears Malsky thinking that he hopes Matt knows how to use a gun. Matt telepathically learns that the diamond exchange is a trap,. As Niki and Jessica argue, Matt overhears both sets of thoughts. Though Matt can hear Mr. Bennet's thoughts, he can't understand them--they're in Japanese. Matt verifies Mr. Bennet is telling the truth about his memory loss for Thompson and Candice Willmer. While in one cell, Matt receives instructions from Mr. Bennet who is in another cell. Future Matt listens to Hiro's thoughts. Matt gets up close and personal with Mr. Bennet (future) in order to find Claire's location. Peter hears Sylar's thoughts. Matt reads Stan like a book. Peter hears Claire's thoughts. Peter hears Nathan's thoughts.

Season Two

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Matt's skills help him decipher a hostage from a kidnapper... ...and later listens to Molly's dreams, and hears a scary voice. (Four Months Later...) Matt perceives that Angela is keen to his tricks when she tells him to 'Get out of my head!'... ...later Maury gives Angela a nightmare. (Lizards) Peter hears Will's treacherous plans. (Kindred) Peter also hears Caitlin's thoughts. (Petrified Lightning) Matt reads Molly's thoughts after she is put in a comatose state from Maury... ...later When Angela confesses to Kaito's murder, Matt knows she's lying. (The Kindness of Strangers) Matt tries to read his father's mind... ...but the attempt ends in feedback and pain... ...then induces nightmares in both Matt... ...and Nathan... ...who struggles with his disfigured alter ego... ...but he doesn't realize that he's really fighting Matt... ...until Matt sends him a telepathic message to wake up. (Fight or Flight) Maury causes Molly to have nightmares about cockroaches. (Molly's Dream) Maury induces a nightmare in Niki, in which she sees D.L. telling her that she will never have a life before he is shot by Bob. (Out of Time) Peter uses telepathy... ...and recovers his lost memories of Angela, his mother. (Out of Time) Maury Parkman's telepathy... ...causes Niki to see D.L. die in her arms... ...then Maury brings Matt into the same nightmare he trapped Molly in... ...but Matt calls Maury... ...and returns the favor... ...leaving Maury trapped in his own nightmare... ...comatose... ...while Molly recovers. (Out of Time) Matt puts the thought of finishing her cereal into Molly's head... ...and she finishes her cereal. (Cautionary Tales) Matt later causes Detective Fuller to decide... ...to give him 24 hours to talk to Angela Petrelli... ...and even commands Angela... ...to answer his questions truthfully. (Cautionary Tales) Peter discovers the location of Strain 138 by reading Victoria Pratt's mind. (Truth & Consequences) Matt receives instructions from Angela to kill Peter if he has to... ...then Matt commands Peter to go after Adam... ...but Peter is immune to his tricks... ...afterward, Matt causes the people at Nathan's press conference to listen to Nathan. (Truth & Consequences)

Season Three

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Matt tries to read Peter's mind... ...but Peter blocks his thoughts... ...the intensity causes a major headache. (The Second Coming) Nathan thinks he's playing chess with Linderman, but it's just a telepathic illusion. (The Butterfly Effect) Peter tries to read Nathan's mind. (I Am Become Death) Maury creates images of Linderman in Daphne's mind, but Linderman isn't really there. Daphne later proves this to be true by swiping some files through the figment. (Angels and Monsters)