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.
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…
OK, well THIS 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?
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.
Hey, I’ve discovered a novel way to spell “inconsistent”.