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From: szarekw@lonexc.radc.af.mil (William J. Szarek)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: The internal buzz
Summary: You do it!
Message-ID: <1991Feb12.134739.13764@lonex.radc.af.mil>
Date: 12 Feb 91 13:47:39 GMT
References: <91041.230852IO80214@MAINE.BITNET>
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In article <91041.230852IO80214@MAINE.BITNET> IO80214@MAINE.BITNET (Jake) writes:
>
>      Just on a curious note; what causes the high pitched
>sound that one hears when all else is quiet?  Also, is there
>any way to tone down the loudness of it?  The one I am referring

YOU cause the "buzz"!  It is caused by the auto-oscillation of the detectors
in the inner ear.  If someone puts their ear up next to yours when you are
experiencing this "buzz" they will be able to hear it as it eminates from
your ear! (dont try this with strangers!! :-))

It has been suggested that this takes place to desensitize the inner ear
to certain frequencies, allowing you to hear *very* faint sounds with a remarkable
ability to discriminate frequency and direction.  

It most often takes place when it is quiet.  If you are *listening* for something
in a quiet room this will most often trigger this "buzz".  It will also happen
after a rock concert because your ability to receive audio signals is attenuated.
 as you hear people talking this "buzz" will begin to enhance your ability
to understand people as they speak.


>trouble sleeping.  If I concentrate on the sound it appears to be
>a combination of three separate pitches.  So my question is; "What
>causes this and how can I quiet it?"

The best way to prevent this from happening is to simply not *listen*.  If
you are listening for something, even this "buzz" you have been habitually
hearing, you are setting up the necessary condititions for its existance.
 The possibly best way to prevent it is to play music (classical music is
best due to its wide variation, and pleasant soothing tones.  Do not however,
play it too quietly, if so you will try to *listen* to it and again set your
self for torment.  If you play it too loudly and think you hear something
in your house you will try to hear it and will again set yourself up.  

If you have had this problem for a while your most difficult challange will
be to condition yourself *not* to expect it to happen.  Breaking habbits
is the hardest thing people try to do.

good luck

buzz