Eye Movement-Related Eardrum Oscillations (EMREOs)

[RingerBell]

Coordination between vision and the vestibular system is a well-understood phenomenon that stabilizes our vision during head movements. This process is known as the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Recent studies have shown that there is also an interaction between vision and the auditory system, called eye movement-related eardrum oscillations (EMREOs). When our eyes move using saccades (fast, jumping-like movements), the brain "notifies" the ear by causing the eardrum to vibrate in a specific pattern.

Some research in this field:

• The eardrums move when the eyes move: A multisensory effect on the mechanics of hearing
• Parametric information about eye movements is sent to the ears
• Unraveling eye movement-related eardrum oscillations (EMREOs): how saccade direction and middle ear properties shape amplitude and time course

With hearing loss and tinnitus, this mechanism could obviously be disrupted. Many people with tinnitus report symptoms that suggest a connection between vision and tinnitus.

EMREOs could be one possible explanation for these symptoms.

 

[Katleft]

I was born with tinnitus and had no idea it could affect your eyes. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Eloy79]

Usher syndrome already links vision and hearing through hair cells.

 

[Joeseph Stope]

It certainly raises questions. For instance, in my case, I've had a squint since childhood. The operation to fix it wasn't 100% successful — it's mostly cosmetic — but I wrestle with face blindness (prosopagnosia).

Until now, I had more or less assumed that noise damage caused my tinnitus, or perhaps a bad throat infection or TMJ. Now I have another possible candidate.