In a nutshell
Some people can consciously move one or both outer ears slightly. The visible movement is usually small and does not turn the ear clearly toward a sound source as it does in many other mammals. Being able to do this says nothing about hearing quality.
Why does it happen?
Small muscles in front of, above, and behind the outer ear are activated through the facial nerve. Measurements also show involuntary auricular muscle activity during directed auditory attention; conscious control and this barely visible activity are different aspects of the same muscular system.
Frequency
Only some people can visibly wiggle their ears at will. The cited study of involuntary auricular muscle activity does not provide a reliable population prevalence for this conscious ability.
Frequency is a qualitative description, not your individual probability.
Is it normal?
Isolated movement without pain is normal.
When to seek advice
Pain, new asymmetry, or facial weakness should be examined.
Does this happen to you?
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Sources (1)
- Strauss et al.: Vestigial auriculomotor activity indicates the direction of auditory attention in humans (opens a new tab)
This source supports the description and physiological context of this entry.
Editorial update: . AI-assisted research and editing; not individually reviewed by a physician. How we research
