Scientists have discovered that the auricular muscles, which helped our distant ancestors move their ears to better hear sounds, still activate when we try to focus on competing sounds. These muscles, known as superior auricular muscles, are part of an attentional effort mechanism that helps us concentrate in challenging auditory environments.
Researchers at Saarland University used electromyography to measure the activity of these muscles in 20 people without hearing problems. They played participants audiobooks and distracting podcasts, and asked them to rate their effort levels and estimate how often they lost track of the story. The results showed that the superior auricular muscles were more active when listening to difficult content.
This suggests that these muscles could provide an objective measure of listening effort, but it’s unclear if muscle activity helps people hear. The scientists also found that ear movements generated by these signals are minuscule and may not be perceivable.
The study highlights the need for further research into the effects of muscle strain on sound transmission and its impact on people with hearing impairments.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-thought-this-ear-muscle-was-useless-new-research-shows-it-still-works