Voluntarily moving one's ears is one of those discreet yet intriguing abilities. This talent, possessed by very few people, is nevertheless much more common in men than in women. Behind this seemingly innocuous movement lies a fascinating story involving evolution, the brain, and the hidden potential of the human body.<\/p>\n
If you manage to move your ears, even slightly, you are actually activating a reflex inherited from our primate ancestors. In monkeys, cats, and dogs, this movement serves to precisely orient the ear flaps towards a sound, in order to identify its source or anticipate danger. In a dense jungle or wild environment, this ability represented a real survival advantage.<\/p>\n
In modern humans, this reflex has lost its original function. The three muscles responsible\u2014the anterior, superior, and posterior little fingers\u2014have become largely unused. Yet, in some people, they remain perfectly activatable. Scientists estimate that very few individuals are capable of this, and it is not yet clear why this ability is about three times more common in men than in women.<\/p>\n
This gesture might be more than just a funny curiosity. Researchers suggest<\/a> it could reflect a more developed form of neuroplasticity. In other words, the brains of people who can wiggle their ears may be better able to maintain, reorganize, or reactivate certain neural connections.<\/p>\n Some studies go even further, suggesting that this ability could be associated with greater brain resilience after a stroke or trauma. This subtle movement would then become an indicator of mental flexibility, adaptability, and recovery potential. A beautiful demonstration of everything your body and brain are capable of, sometimes without you even realizing it.<\/p>\n Wagging your ears isn't as simple as it seems. It requires very precise coordination between the brain and muscles that most people never use voluntarily. To make them move, you have to activate these three muscles simultaneously, without relying on facial or neck movements.<\/p>\n So it's not a matter of anatomy\u2014everyone has these muscles\u2014but rather of neural connections. In some people, these connections have remained active. In others, they've simply become dormant, without disappearing entirely. Good news for those who enjoy gentle physical challenges.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, this talent isn't reserved for a "genetic elite." It's possible to awaken these dormant muscles. In front of a mirror, by focusing on the temple area and trying to elicit the slightest twitch, you can gradually reactivate this ancestral movement.<\/p>\n The key lies in patience, body awareness, and repetition. Every micro-movement counts. And even if you can't get your ears twitching like an attentive cat, you're still stimulating your body awareness, coordination, and brain-muscle connection. It's a rewarding practice for your body, your mind, and your confidence in your abilities.<\/p>\n In short, wiggling your ears might not transform you into a superhero, but this gesture perfectly illustrates the hidden richness of your body. It reminds us that you are so much more than what you use every day, that your brain is teeming with unexplored neural pathways, and that your body deserves to be celebrated in all its subtleties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Voluntarily moving one's ears is one of those discreet yet intriguing abilities. This talent, possessed by very few...","protected":false},"author":8264,"featured_media":433420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5639],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bien-etre"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tres-peu-de-gens-en-sont-capables_-_-ce-geste-discret-permettrait-de-localiser-les-sons-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tres-peu-de-gens-en-sont-capables_-_-ce-geste-discret-permettrait-de-localiser-les-sons-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tres-peu-de-gens-en-sont-capables_-_-ce-geste-discret-permettrait-de-localiser-les-sons.jpg","author":{"name":"Ana\u00eblle Gayon","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Agayon-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":5639,"name":"Well-being","slug":"bien-etre","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5804,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":360,"count":1718,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5639,"category_count":1718,"category_description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Well-being","category_nicename":"bien-etre","category_parent":360}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8264"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433419"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":434412,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433419\/revisions\/434412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=433419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=433419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} A feat of motor coordination<\/h2>\n
Good news: you can learn<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
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How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
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Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n