Tensor Tympani Muscle

[darkshark]

Ever since I was a kid, I've been able to "flex" what I thought was my eardrum, and produce a bass-like low rumble noise, that could actually cancel out about 70% of all other noises I'd hear. I've asked tons of people if over the years if they can do this with their ears as well, but I've not met a single person who can do it.

Today, I finally found out what exactly it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_tympani

The article says that "A small percentage of the population can actually voluntarily contract this muscle, inducing a noticeable and (until explained) odd 'rumbling' sound to occur"

Just trying to find out just how many people can do this.

[MrRubix]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

I can -- always wondered what this was called. Thanks for the link!

I flex that muscle whenever I am in an elevator or plane and need to pop my ears.

[MrGiggles]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

I can -- always wondered what this was called. Thanks for the link!

I flex that muscle whenever I am in an elevator or plane and need to pop my ears.

Sounds more like a crackling to me. Not sure I'm doing the same thing, but it serves the same purpose.

[MrRubix]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

It "cracks" if you only do it real fast/only do it once. If you hold it, it's a sort of endless rumble.

[customstuff]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

I think I can. It doesn't seem as noticeable as it used to be for some reason though. I used to be able to drown out a lot of noise and now it's hard to notice any difference...

[Kibblre]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

When I yawn, I can hear rumbling. Is it the same thing?

[cry4eternity]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

Oh wow! I wondered what this was too!! Thanks
I can do it as well.

[darkshark]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

I scuba dive regularly and it's always helped in clearing the ears on the way down. It also lets me know if I have water in my ears after swimming and stuff, it gets considerably louder in this instance.

Note: If you have actual voluntary control of this, you should be able to "hold" it pretty much as long as you want, any time you want, without moving any part of your head or neck.

@customstuff: If you can do it, you KNOW you can do it, there won't be any thinking about it.

@Kibblre: I guess technically it is the same thing, but that's an involuntary usage of it.

[Kibblre]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

Note: If you have actual voluntary control of this, you should be able to "hold" it pretty much as long as you want, any time you want, without moving any part of your head or neck.

I'm guessing the rumbling I hear when I yawn isn't part of this.

[customstuff]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

DS, if you humm and flex that muscle at the same time does it get louder?

[MrGiggles]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

Nope, I can't get the constant rumble, just the crackling. I can get rumble if I clench some face muscles or yawn but that's not the same thing.

e:Kibblre: kind of. Flexed muscles make noise, the rumbling noise. When you yawn, the rumbling you hear isn't the tensor timpani. It's your contorted face making that noise. darkshark and his ilk can just make the rumbling without moving anything.

[cry4eternity]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

I hear a crackling noise when I do it, and when I hold it stuff like humming gets louder but I don't hear any "rumbling."

[Kibblre]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

Damn, I thought I was special...

I can hyper extend my elbow, though.

[darkshark]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

In that case it looks like just Rubix so far.

[who_cares973]

Re: Tensor Tympani Muscle

if you cant do it just clench your fist and put it up against your ear and you get the same result!!!