# Self-induced intracranial sound

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 2, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053 "2003-10-02T02:57:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![RedDawgEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedDawgEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDawgEsq)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053/21 "2003-10-02T14:27:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RevRaven \*  
> \*\*I know exactly what you guys mean. I’ve been able to do this for years, but I never had any idea how to explain it to people. Thank you guys for solving one of the mysteries of my life… \*\*

Hmmmm, well, is it really solved yet? I was hoping perhaps an EENTW MD (Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, and Wallet) would weigh-in on this with the definitive answer.

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**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053/22 "2003-10-02T15:07:58Z")

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I can do it too - just a second or so. To me is seems like the muscles behing the eyes are fulttering and what I am hearing is the sound of the muscles twitching being transmitted through the skull or soft tissue of the head.

I had a hearing check done and they put me in a soundproof room. Man, you have no idea how much sound your body makes until that is the only thing you can hear. I seriously need new joints…

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**Author:** ![RedDawgEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedDawgEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDawgEsq)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053/23 "2003-10-02T17:47:06Z")

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OK, well [THIS](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/sep99/937369459.Gb.r.html) is as close to a definitive answer as I have found so far. Apparently the ability to command this reaction is not universal. FTR, I am also able to wiggle my ears. If I concentrate I can wiggle them individually but the stapedius/tensor tympani contractions are always bilateral. Who else in this thread can also wiggle their ears? Do the two abilities usually go together?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053/24 "2003-10-02T19:19:41Z")

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As I said, I can do the ear noise thing and to a point I can do it in individual ears, but that ability is highly incosisent and I can’t keep it up for long (no jokes, please :p). However, I cannot wiggle my ears to save my life.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-induced-intracranial-sound/205053/25 "2003-10-02T19:20:52Z")

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Hey, I’ve discovered a novel way to spell “inconsistent”.

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