Ear wiggling is movement of the

external ear The outer ear, external ear, or auris externa is the external part of the ear, which consists of the auricle (also pinna) and the ear canal. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Structure Auricle The ...

using the three muscles which are attached to it

forward Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward. Forward may also refer to: People * Forward (surname) Sports * Forward (association football) * Forward (basketball), including: ** Point forward ** Power forward (basketball) ** Sm ...

, above and behind. Some mammals such as cows have good control of these muscles, which they use to twitch and orient their ears, but humans usually find this difficult. Research conducted on humans using a

kymograph A kymograph (from Greek κῦμα, swell or wave + γραφή, writing; also called a kymographion) is an analog device that draws a graphical representation of spatial position over time in which a spatial axis represents time. It basically consi ...

to measure their ear movements found that only two out of twelve subjects had any voluntary control at the start, but that the others could acquire this by training with an early form of

biofeedback Biofeedback is the process of gaining greater awareness of many physiology, physiological functions of one's own body by using Electronics, electronic or other instruments, and with a goal of being able to Manipulation (psychology), manipulate t ...

. Female rats wiggle their ears when they are in heat, to excite male rats and encourage them to mate.

References

Biofeedback Ear {{anatomy-stub