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Original poster

Saturday Night Entertainment - Who can make their Tensor Tympani muscles vibrate at will?

49 replies

ThoseDarnCrows · 06/07/2024 21:47

I've always been able to do this wondrous thing, but never knew what it was. It is seemingly quite a rare achievement to be able to do at will. preens

Maybe it could be a new olympic event, who know!!

OP posts:
Original poster
ThoseDarnCrows · 06/07/2024 23:03

I've just managed to do it twice more heavily in my left ear, than my right.!!

OP posts:
ditalini · 06/07/2024 23:04

I can do it. Squeezing the muscle makes my eyes close/scrunch slightly.

Ds2 can as well, plus he can wiggle his ears which I definitely can't!

merryhouse · 06/07/2024 23:09

I had No Idea what you were talking about till the poster who said she had to shut her eyes to do it. I screwed my eyes shut - and thought "oh, that"

I'm trying to replicate it with my eyes open but I think what I'm getting is just a kind of shudder and doesn't count.

violetposie · 06/07/2024 23:10

I had no idea what anyone was talking about re: the thunder noise until I just yawned and heard it. I have never noticed it before. It's certainly not something I can do consciously!

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 06/07/2024 23:11

CandyLeBonBon · 06/07/2024 22:59

I can do this too. I thought everyone can? I don't need to scrunch my eyes up or anything. It's like kegel exercises for my ears!

Kegel exercises for the ears is such a good description,

I also don't need to close my eyes or move any other muscles in my head/neck. And I can flick it on and off very quickly as well as hold it.
I can only do both ears simultaneously though - can't do one at a time. Something to work on when I'm next in a boring meeting!

Diggerdog123 · 06/07/2024 23:18

ThoseDarnCrows · 06/07/2024 21:47

I've always been able to do this wondrous thing, but never knew what it was. It is seemingly quite a rare achievement to be able to do at will. preens

Maybe it could be a new olympic event, who know!!

I didn’t know people couldn’t do this! I can do it and had no idea it was rare.

Lucinda7 · 06/07/2024 23:20

I have just done this! I can do it by moving some muscles near my ears. No yawning or closing eyes. I can feel the pressure in my ears changing. Thanks for mentioning it OP!

vipersnest1 · 06/07/2024 23:37

I've just experimented....
I can do it with my eyes open, and can do it with single ears with my eyes shut.
Who knew!

DramaAlpaca · 06/07/2024 23:38

Oh, this is a thing! I've always been able to do it, but didn't know what it was.

I can do it at will just by thinking about it, and if I concentrate a bit I can do the left side on its own <preens>

Ilovetuesdays · 07/07/2024 09:19

The study sounds fascinating but I'm a bit far from Bath to take part, I hope they get a good response.
I've just discovered I can do it in time with music 😆

Mumoftwo1316 · 07/07/2024 10:20

Never knew this was a thing either - can't everyone do it then?
I can do both at once or just the right, can't seem to do the left on its own.

I've always done this to loosen up earwax if I'm in a situation where it wouldn't be genteel to stick a finger in my ear!

I wouldn't describe it as a rumbling sound. More like, the sound of a very slimy door opening and shutting?

Saisong · 07/07/2024 10:25

Only with my eyes squeezed shut, and only in my left ear

DilemmaDelilah · 07/07/2024 13:30

I can definitely do it. I would think it was more unusual NOT to be able to do it?

TyneTeas · 07/07/2024 15:05

I don't think I can do it in just one ear by choice, however I have noticed that last night it was louder in my left but today it is louder in my right, so I may pursue this...

BearSoFair · 07/07/2024 15:18

I can - and it's linked to being able to wiggle my ears! The weird part is that I can't move my ears without the rumble, but I CAN do the rumble without my ears moving. I don't really understand how because it feels like the exact same movement to me!

TyneTeas · 07/07/2024 15:50

I can't wriggle my ears but can rumble them

Original poster
ThoseDarnCrows · 07/07/2024 19:21

Sorry - been out in a signal free zone all day.

Reading all the responses makes me think we should send the Bath study a link to this page.

You are all so talented!

I can confirm that:
I can do it with my eyes both open and closed, though it's louder with my eyes open.
Have improved since yesterday performing with my left ear, which involves a slight usage of muscle in my left cheekbone.
Oh, and I've just discovered whilst sitting here that if I blink quickly, I can vibrate my ears quicker than if I just do it normally. THAT is a sentence I never ever thought I'd find myself writing

OP posts:
ItsFuckingBoringFeedingEveryoneUntilYouDie · 07/07/2024 19:33

Another one who assumed everyone could do this. Will be off to ask my family if they can shortly. H has permanent tinnitus, don't know if that impacts.

Wigeon · 07/07/2024 22:10

I have also surveyed my family:

DD1 - yes of course
DD2 - initially - no. Then later on: yes if I blink and squeeze my eyes closed
DH - er what? Then turns out he can but only if he closes his eyes tight shut

No idea what with the eyes closed thing - seems totally unconnected when I do it.

Wigeon · 07/07/2024 22:12

BearSoFair · 07/07/2024 15:18

I can - and it's linked to being able to wiggle my ears! The weird part is that I can't move my ears without the rumble, but I CAN do the rumble without my ears moving. I don't really understand how because it feels like the exact same movement to me!

So I can wiggle ears, or rumble ears, separately, or together. But only both ears at once, for either "skill"...!

Downthemedow · 07/07/2024 22:16

I’m intrigued by this - what does it feel/sound like? When I blink I can feel a sort of ‘click’ in my ears, but it lasts a fraction of a second. A rumble to me implies something longer. Am I doing it wrong?

Wigeon · 07/07/2024 22:21

Literally like a low deep rumble of thunder. I can make it last two or three seconds but then it stops.

Tinylittleunicorn · 07/07/2024 22:23

Omg I finally have a talent. I can do this at will without moving any other muscles or screwing up my eyes or anything like that. I can do either side individually, or both together. And I can do multiple short sharp pulses or a sustained "hold" for a couple of seconds. I have to admit I assumed everyone was able to do this. Perhaps most people are and it's just understudied.

TyneTeas · 09/07/2024 13:12

You don't have to be local to Bath to take part in the study, they are doing some traveling to meet people in other places in UK so if that is only reason, worth getting in touch with them

https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/ear-rumbling-the-participants-project-guide/

Ear rumbling: the participants’ project guide

This information explains how participants who have the ability to “ear rumble” can get involved with this project.

https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/ear-rumbling-the-participants-project-guide

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