An audio illusion has taken the Internet by storm. The audio clip challenges the listener to decide if the male voice says “Yanny” or “Laurel.” Many listeners are divided over what they hear.
The audio clip was created by a speech and hearing professor named Brad Story. One video on Youtube.com garnered over 6 million viewers.
The video by AsapSCIENCE breaks down the scientific reasons why one half of the Internet hears Yanny, while the other half hears Laurel.
A recent Twitter poll found that 47% of the users hear “Yanny” while 53 percent hear “Laurel.”
AsapSCIENCE breaks down the science behind the audio illusion.
1. Priming
If you are primed to hear something before you hear it, you will be influenced by what you were told. Your brain uses existing information and precise neurological pathways to focus your attention.
2. Sound frequencies
Individuals hear sound frequencies and acoustic features differently depending on the environment they’re in or whether they are listening on a laptop, smartphone, or through headphones.
4. Age
Younger people hear more higher frequencies than older people who lose some ability to pick up higher frequencies as we age. Younger people tend to hear “Yanny” (higher frequencies) while older people might hear “Laurel” (lower frequencies).
Do you hear Yanny or Laurel? (I hear Yanny). Scroll down for the correct answer.
The original recording is saying “Laurel,” but with higher frequencies overlaid to raise doubt and spark debates.
