Ears burning? You have a busy brain

Last updated at 17:34 20 April 2005


Burning ears, it's said, are a sure sign someone is talking about you.

But it could be simply that you're having a brainwave.

The theory comes from scientists who have devised a hi-tech hat that monitors brain activity - by tracking changes in ear temperature.

It is being hailed as a cheap, painless way of assessing the risks for patients prior to brain surgery.

By plugging the converted hard hat into a patient's ears, researchers can measure tiny changes in eardrum temperature. These are caused by an increased flow of blood to one side of the brain or the other.

"If an area of the brain is more active it needs more blood, which flows up the carotid artery on either side of the neck," said Australian psychologist Nicolas Cherbuin.

"This blood is shared between the brain and the inner ear, so by measuring the ear temperature we can work out which side of the brain is more active."

The bright-red, £2,000 prototype can be used repeatedly in place of MRI scans, commonly used for brain testing, which cost £400 a time.

The device could be used to study the theory that some people are right-brained and others left-brained.

The left side is linked with linguistic skills, while the right side is said to control visual and spatial functions.

"But it may not be as clear-cut as simply saying someone is left-brained or right-brained," said Mr Cherbuin.

The hat could also help pinpoint damaged brain functions in stroke victims to aid rehabilitation, he added.

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