The ability to move one’s ears raises questions about its prevalence and biological mechanisms. Though seemingly simple, it involves muscles and neural pathways evolved over time. This distinctive trait leads many to wonder why some individuals possess this control while others do not, prompting a closer look at the science behind ear movement.
How Common is Ear Wiggling?
Voluntary ear movement is a minority ability among humans. Estimates suggest that approximately 10% to 20% of people can consciously move their ears, though some figures indicate it might be as high as 22% for moving one ear and 18% for both. This capacity is often considered a genetic trait, meaning it tends to run in families.
For most humans, the muscles responsible for ear movement are largely vestigial, having lost much of their original function. While these muscles are present in nearly everyone, the conscious control over them has diminished over time. This makes voluntary ear movement a remnant of an earlier evolutionary stage. While many animals, such as cats and dogs, use ear movements to orient towards sounds, humans primarily rely on head and eye movements for sound localization.
The Science of Ear Muscles
Auricular Muscles
The external ear, or pinna, is controlled by three small muscles called the auricular muscles. These include the auricularis anterior, superior, and posterior. The anterior auricular muscle pulls the ear forward and upward, the superior auricular muscle raises the ear, and the posterior auricular muscle draws it backward. These muscles are innervated by the facial nerve, which also controls various facial expressions.
Evolutionary Context
In many mammals, these muscles are well-developed and play a role in directing the ear to capture sound waves, thereby enhancing hearing and sound localization. However, in humans, the ear structure itself is not designed for significant movement, making the muscular action minimal.
Subtle Activity
Recent research indicates that while voluntary movement is rare, these vestigial auricular muscles can still show subtle, involuntary activity, particularly when individuals are listening intently or trying to focus on specific sounds amidst distractions. This suggests that ancient neural pathways for ear movement persist, even if they no longer provide a noticeable functional benefit.
Can You Train Your Ear Muscles?
For individuals who cannot voluntarily move their ears, learning this skill is often of interest. While the auricular muscles are present in most people, the neural connections for conscious control are often underdeveloped. Despite this, some evidence suggests that gaining voluntary control over these muscles may be possible through dedicated practice.
This process often involves muscle re-education, a technique to retrain the body to perform specific movements by re-establishing nerve signals between muscles and the brain. Studies have shown that individuals can acquire some control by using biofeedback or visual feedback, where they can see their muscle activation on a screen. Success in learning to wiggle one’s ears varies among individuals and typically requires consistent effort and concentration to develop the necessary muscle memory and neural pathways.