ResearchAuditory Perception & Cognition
Redefining the Distinction Between the Mind’s Ear and the Inner Voice
HubbardJanuary 2026
Our summary in plain words
What This Study Is About
This research explores the "inner voice" and the "mind’s ear," investigating how we imagine sounds and speech. It specifically looks at how our physical body—like tiny, silent movements in the throat—plays a role in creating these mental sounds.
How They Studied It
The author reviewed decades of existing research on auditory imagery (the ability to "hear" sounds in your mind). These studies involved various methods:
- Brain Scans: Looking at which parts of the brain light up when people imagine music or speech.
- Muscle Tracking: Using sensors to detect "subvocalization"—tiny movements in the larynx (voice box) and lips that happen even when a person is silent.
- Interference Tests: Asking participants to perform tasks like humming or repeating a nonsense word to see if it blocks their ability to imagine other sounds.
- Aphantasia Comparisons: Referencing studies that compare people with typical imagery to those with aphantasia (the inability to voluntarily create mental images).
What They Found
The research suggests that auditory imagery isn't just one thing; it involves two different pathways in the brain. One pathway (the "mind’s ear") identifies what a sound is, while the other (the "inner voice") is linked to the physical action of making that sound. Key findings include:
- Physical Connection: When people imagine speaking or singing, their throat muscles often move as if they were actually making the sound.
- Blocking Imagery: If you occupy your mouth or throat (by humming or chewing gum), it becomes much harder to experience "earworms" or imagine speech.
- Aphantasia Links: People with aphantasia often report a weaker or non-existent inner voice, suggesting that the "blindness" of the mind's eye often extends to the mind's ear.
What This Might Mean
This suggests that mental imagery is "embodied," meaning it is deeply tied to our physical bodies and motor systems, not just abstract thoughts in the brain. For those with aphantasia or anauralia (the absence of an inner voice), it suggests their brains may process information without using these sensory-motor simulations. However, because much of this is based on self-reporting and indirect muscle measurements, more research is needed to understand the exact mechanics.
One Interesting Detail
Researchers found that "earworms"—those catchy songs that get stuck in your head—can often be stopped or weakened simply by chewing gum, as the physical movement interferes with the brain's ability to "play" the song using the inner voice pathway.
This summary was written with AI and may contain errors. Check the original paper.
Authors
Timothy L. Hubbard
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University
1 paper in the library
Cite this paper
Hubbard, T. L. (2026). Redefining the distinction between the mind’s ear and the inner voice. Auditory Perception & Cognition, 9(1), 7–33. doi:10.1080/25742442.2026.2625168
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