Wobbling Ears: How They Might Have Enhanced Human Hearing

You’ve likely observed cats and dogs twitching their ears in response to sounds. This movement may not be very dramatic for their relatively stiff ears, but humans still possess the muscles that once allowed for greater ear mobility. Interestingly, some people can even wiggle their ears, and it turns out they’re more active than previously thought.

Andreas Schlair, a neurology expert and renowned “Wiggler of Ears,” works at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany. He was part of a research team that had 20 participants with normal hearing listen to recorded voices while a distracting podcast played in the background. Electrodes placed around the volunteers’ ears recorded their muscle activity.

One particular muscle known as the superior auricular muscle was activated when listening conditions were challenging. This muscle sits just above the ears and allows them to lift.

Schlair’s team presented their findings on January 30th in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.

These muscles might have assisted our ancestors in better locating sounds millions of years ago. However, modern humans do not rely on ear movements as much. Currently, it’s uncertain whether this minimal muscle activity enhances hearing (though scientists haven’t specifically tested this). According to Schlair, “It will try its best, but it probably won’t improve hearing.”

Nonetheless, these muscles may serve different purposes. Such activities might provide insight into someone’s listening efforts, which could eventually assist in developing better hearing impairment solutions. For instance, a device might learn to minimize background noise when a user struggles to hear.

Schlair notes that the diversity in human ear shapes and motion capabilities complicates ear muscle research. Additionally, the variable sizes of these muscles can make it challenging to accurately capture their activity.

Schlair has collected stories highlighting remarkable ear abilities, including individuals who feel their ears moving toward sounds. Others incorporate ear movements in their everyday life. “They shake their ears a bit, then bring them back to their noses where their glasses sit,” he explains.

Research indicates that some people with exceptional ear movements find comfort in these studies. According to Schlair, “They always thought they were a bit unusual, so they truly appreciate it.”

Source: www.snexplores.org