Have you ever tried wiggling your ears as a cool party trick?

Like rolling your tongue or licking your nose, it's one of those abilities that we often think is genetic — either you can do it naturally or not at all.

Could You Train Yourself to Wiggle Your Ears?

Daniel J. Strauss, a professor of neuroscience and neurotechnology at Saarland University Hospital in Germany, has some good news for those of you who have dreamt of moving your ears at will.

In a recent study conducted with professors from Saarland University and the University of Missouri, Strauss explored the possibility of training specific ear muscles to move voluntarily. The study involved providing visual feedback to participants to help them 'train' these muscles.

Unlocking the Potential of Voluntary Ear Movements

The research aimed to see if audio stimuli could encourage voluntary ear movements in participants. While animals like dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits can move their ears to focus on particular sounds, humans have largely lost this ability over time. Strauss believes that humans may have retained a vestigial pinna-orienting system that has persisted as a 'neural fossil' within the brain. This system, which was once crucial for our ancestors in locating sounds, may still be present in modern humans, though it's no longer fully functional in most people.

The concept of the "neural fossil" suggests that while we may no longer rely on ear movements for survival, the neural pathways associated with them are still encoded in our brain. Strauss’s hypothesis challenges the idea that evolution removes all traits once they are no longer necessary. Instead, certain abilities may linger within the brain's architecture, waiting to be unlocked under the right circumstances.

Understanding Vestigial Structures in the Human Body

Just like wisdom teeth and the coccyx (tailbone) which have lost their function over time, our ability to move our ears in response to specific sounds might also be a vestigial trait. While our ancestors relied on this 'acoustic radar' to localize threats, modern humans no longer need this ability for survival, leading to its decline over generations.

Could Ear-Wiggling Abilities be Hereditary?

Research into the hereditary nature of ear-wiggling abilities is scarce, but a study from 1949 published in the journal Hereditas suggests that the ability to move one's ears might have a genetic component. The study found that 74% of people who could wiggle their ears had a parent with the same ability.

Though the study provides some insight, the full mechanism behind ear-wiggling abilities remains unclear. Some researchers believe that the trait might be linked to dominant or recessive genes, but there’s still much to explore in the world of genetics.

Interestingly, many people who can wiggle their ears seem to do so without much effort, while others may struggle despite trying for years. The ability to move one’s ears might also be connected to the level of control one has over the muscles in the face and head, such as those involved in eyebrow movement or facial expressions.

Striving for Ear-Wiggling Excellence

While some individuals might find it easier to wiggle their ears due to stronger ear muscles, Strauss believes that with dedication, anyone could potentially learn to move their ears voluntarily. So, if you're up for the challenge, who knows? Maybe you could become the next ear-wiggling sensation like Mr. Bean!

The ability to wiggle your ears might not be as elusive as it seems. With determination and practice, you could unlock this hidden talent within you. So go ahead, give it a try, and who knows, you might just surprise yourself and your friends with your newfound ear-wiggling prowess!