Listening Engages Muscular Activity in the Ear

Research has shown that actively listening can stimulate muscle movement in the human ear, a phenomenon that, while subtle, can be scientifically measured. Unlike many animals, such as dogs and cats, humans have largely lost the ability to move their ears actively, with only a small percentage of the population capable of doing so.

Recent studies led by a team from the University of Saarland, including Professor Daniel J. Strauss and first author Andreas Schröer, have shed light on this unique aspect of human anatomy. Their findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, suggest that the muscle activity associated with perking up the ears, commonly observed in animals, is also present in humans, albeit to a lesser degree.

The researchers conducted experiments with 20 healthy volunteers who were asked to listen to a podcast while attempting to retain its content. The experiment included three phases with increasing difficulty. In addition to the target podcast, participants were exposed to one or two distracting podcasts at varying volumes. After each phase, participants were asked to recall details from the target podcast and to rate their level of concentration during the listening task.

During the experiments, participants maintained a fixed head position while listening. The auditory stimuli were presented at a consistent distance, either directly in front or behind them. To monitor muscle activity, small electrodes were placed on the skin around the outer ear to record the activity of the upper and lower ear muscles.

The results revealed that although humans cannot move their ears as dramatically as many animals, there is a measurable engagement of the ear muscles during focused listening. This finding opens up new avenues for understanding the neurological underpinnings of how we process sound and maintain attention.

In the broader context, this research contributes to our understanding of auditory processing and the physical aspects of listening. It supports the idea that even subtle muscle activity can play a role in how we engage with and interpret sounds in our environment.

This study not only highlights the fascinating capabilities of the human body but also emphasizes the importance of listening in communication and comprehension. Future research could explore how this muscle engagement impacts auditory perception and whether it varies among individuals.