If you have a dog or a cat, you’ve probably noticed they move their ears in response to sound. And, if you are talented, you may be able to wiggle your ears yourself.

Humans have muscles in our ears called vestigial auricular muscles. These muscles were once used by our ancestors to move their ears for better hearing. Though they are no longer functional for ear movement, new research suggests these muscles still play a role in focused listening, particularly in noisy environments.

A study recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that auricular muscles, especially the superior auricular muscle, activate during challenging listening tasks. Using electromyography, researchers at Saarland University in Germany measured muscle activity while participants listened to an audiobook with distracting background sounds. They found that the posterior auricular muscle responded to changes in sound direction, while the superior auricular muscle activated more as listening difficulty increased.

Participants' self-reported listening effort aligned with muscle activity, suggesting these muscles may serve as an objective measure of auditory strain. However, whether their activation enhances hearing remains uncertain. Scientists propose that while the auriculomotor system still reacts to auditory challenges, it may no longer provide a significant benefit. Future research will explore the effects of auricular muscle strain and tiny ear movements on sound perception, particularly in individuals with hearing impairments.

We are constantly learning more about hearing and the auditory system. This research is another useful– and fun– part of improving hearing health for all.

Check out the research here and head to our Clinical Page for the latest RestorEar research updates.