Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Hot-cold water sound perception and auditory-thermal discrimination.

Attention, perception & psychophysics·2026

Same author

School-age hearing screening outcomes: analysis of 24,258 students.

European journal of pediatrics·2025

Same author

Sound, brain, and bias: Dissecting the Laurel-Yanny illusion with auditory and cognitive markers.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·2025

Same author

Examination of audiologic findings and noise sensitivity in motorcycle couriers.

Archives of environmental & occupational health·2025

Same author

An Occupational Disease in Car Wash and Auto Detailing Workers: Hearing Loss.

Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India·2025

Same author

Do Flights Affect Hearing in Hot Air Balloon Pilots?

American journal of audiology·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Auricular Acupuncture Effect on Facial Contraction via Middle Ear Muscles Reflexes.

Didem Şahin Ceylan¹

¹Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

|December 26, 2024

Summary

Auricular acupuncture (AA) can cause facial contractions, particularly with sound stimuli. This case study links these contractions to specific acoustic reflex changes, offering new insights into neural pathways.

Keywords:

Acoustic reflex Audiology Auricular acupuncture Case report Facial muscles

More Related Videos

Effects of Different Connection Modes of Electroacupuncture on Electrocardiogram and Nerve Discharge in Rats

Effects of Different Connection Modes of Electroacupuncture on Electrocardiogram and Nerve Discharge in Rats

Published on: January 3, 2025

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Effects of Different Connection Modes of Electroacupuncture on Electrocardiogram and Nerve Discharge in Rats

Effects of Different Connection Modes of Electroacupuncture on Electrocardiogram and Nerve Discharge in Rats

Published on: January 3, 2025

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

Area of Science:

Integrative Medicine
Neuroscience
Acupuncture Research

Background:

Auricular acupuncture (AA) stimulates the auricle to regulate bodily functions via central neural pathways.
A patient with depression, refusing conventional treatment, underwent AA.
The patient reported experiencing right-sided facial contractions during AA sessions.

Observation:

Facial contractions were triggered by high-intensity sound during AA.
Acoustic reflex thresholds were evaluated in response to sound stimuli.
Decreased acoustic reflex thresholds were noted at 0.5 and 1 kHz.

Findings:

Right-sided facial contractions correlated with specific sound frequencies (0.5 and 1 kHz).
The observed contractions suggest a link between auditory stimulation and auricular nerve pathways.
This phenomenon provides a unique clinical observation of somatosensory integration via the auricle.

Implications:

This case highlights a novel somatosensory response to auditory stimuli during AA.
Understanding these neural connections may refine AA techniques and patient management.
Further research into auricular neurophysiology and its interaction with sensory inputs is warranted.