Tens of millions of years ago, our ancestors were able to rotate their ears to receive sounds like cats and dogs. Humans lose that ability over time and the muscles that used to control the movement of most ears – except a few people who can still wag the ears. But the new research shows that these muscles are still responding when we listen carefully by hinting their original functions.
Researchers in Germany and the United States found that the muscles used to move our ears, also known as the ear muscle name, which is still enabled when we focus on the sound of the competition as if trying to restore the ancient at Our far away to rotate or weaken our ears. Although it is not clear that this helps to increase our hearing capabilities. Today, their research indicates that the more we try to listen, the more they are involved with those muscles. only This finding also causes the clarification of our body and the only ability that disappears from evolution.
“There are three large muscles that connect the ear to the skull and scalp and are important to the wagging of the ears.” Andreas Schröer of the University of Saarland, which is the leader in the statement by the journal. border– “These muscles, especially the superior ear muscle, shows more activities during listening to work. This points out that these muscles are involved not only But is a reflection But may be part of the mechanism of effort, especially in a challenging environment
Previous research has linked activities in the back muscles and high -ranking ear muscles. (The largest ear muscle) to sigh that our ancestors use them to move the ears and channels to their eardrum. However, Schröer and his colleagues want to check if the muscles are more enthusiastic when people must listen harder.
If there is details in the file study Published today in borderThe researchers are in the electrode – equipment that detects electric motivation – to the ear muscle of 20 participants without hearing problems and tools for them to listen to the audio books released from the speaker. Participants listen to audio books at various difficulty levels and answer questions about the content at the end. Sometimes the researchers play in the same attention and sometimes the sound comes from different directions – but the work can always be done. If the participants give up because it's too difficult, activities that are linked to the efforts of the ear muscle will stop.
In the end, the researchers noticed that the back and the excellent ear muscles show different activities depending on the acoustic situation. The more attendees are attempted to hear the sound of the audio books, the higher the higher the ear muscle. In addition, when the audio book is played behind the participants, the back of the earplier of the participants will enable them to point their ears in that direction. If we still have that ability
“These exact reasons (muscles) become a difficult establishment to say because our ancestors lost this ability about 25 million years ago,” Schröer explained. “One possible explanation is possible that the evolution of the evolution of the ears stop because we because of more capabilities with our image and vocals.”
In the end, it seems that the ear muscle that is superior to the difficulty of listening. -Open more during the most difficult listening -causing the rear ear muscle to be stimulated by the direction of the sound
“The movement of the ears that can be created from the signal that we recorded is so small that it may not be useful to recognize,” Schröer added. “However, the ears (ears) helps us to be capable. In the translation, so the auriculomotor system Ours may try the best after being established 25 million years but not very successful. “
What is the actual use of the real ear muscles? Although researchers admit that additional research in a more realistic state must confirm their results. But superior ear muscle activities may act as a physical indicator of listening efforts.
Therefore, next time someone wants Are you listening? Be careful – soon there may be a tool to confirm your answer.