ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel ASAP Science Do You Hear "Yanny" or "Laurel"? (SOLVED with SCIENCE)
Have you ever listened to a sound clip and wondered why some people hear “YANNY” while others hear “LAUREL”? This puzzling audio illusion has sparked a lot of debate online. Let’s dive into the science behind why this happens!
Priming plays a big role in what you hear. If you listen to the clip without knowing the options, you might not hear either word clearly. But once you see the words “YANNY” or “LAUREL,” your brain is primed to hear one of them.
When we speak, we create sound waves that travel through the air. Brad Story, a professor specializing in speech, language, and hearing, analyzed the sound waves of the “YANNY/LAUREL” recording. Interestingly, the acoustic features of both words are quite similar, which is why they can sound alike.
The device you use, like a laptop, phone, or headphones, can affect what you hear due to differences in sound quality. But even if you’re using the same device as someone else, you might hear different things. This could be because of the age of your ears. “YANNY” contains higher frequency sounds than “LAUREL.” As people age, they often lose the ability to hear higher frequencies. So, if you hear “YANNY,” your ears might be younger!
Thanks to the internet, you can experience both words. A creative Twitter user adjusted the pitch of the audio. When the pitch is lowered by 30%, “YANNY” becomes more audible. Conversely, when the pitch is raised by 30%, “LAUREL” is more likely to be heard.
Your brain is constantly processing a lot of information. It uses existing knowledge and pathways to decide what to focus on. This is similar to how you can pay attention to a friend at a noisy party while still being aware of other conversations. In the same way, your brain chooses which frequencies in the recording to focus on.
So, what’s the real answer? If you heard “LAUREL,” you’re correct! The original recording says “LAUREL,” but the higher frequencies can make it sound ambiguous.
If you love learning about cool topics like this, check out our new podcast called “SIDENOTE.” We explore interesting questions and the science behind them. You can find it on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. We appreciate your support as we dive into more scientific discussions. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget to subscribe for more exciting science videos every Thursday.
Listen to the “YANNY/LAUREL” audio clip using different devices like a phone, laptop, and headphones. Note any differences in what you hear. Discuss with your classmates why these differences might occur based on the science of sound waves and device quality.
Use an online audio editing tool to adjust the pitch of the “YANNY/LAUREL” recording. Lower the pitch by 30% and then raise it by 30%. Record which word you hear at each pitch level and compare results with your classmates.
Conduct a priming experiment by playing the audio clip to a group of friends without showing them the words “YANNY” or “LAUREL.” Then, show them the words and play the clip again. Observe and discuss how priming affects their perception of the audio.
Take an online frequency hearing test to determine the range of frequencies you can hear. Compare your results with the class and discuss how age and hearing ability might influence what you hear in the “YANNY/LAUREL” clip.
In a noisy environment, try to focus on a single conversation while ignoring others. Reflect on how your brain processes and prioritizes sounds, similar to how it decides between “YANNY” and “LAUREL.” Share your experience with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Do you hear “YANNY” or “LAUREL”? A recent Twitter poll found that 47% of people hear “YANNY,” while 53% hear “LAUREL.” This has sparked an internet debate that is dividing opinions. So, what is the science behind this phenomenon?
One key aspect is priming. If you were to listen to this clip without being given the options of “YANNY” or “LAUREL,” you might not hear either word. However, by reading them, you’re primed to hear one or the other.
When we speak, we produce sound waves that travel through the air. This is a visual representation of the sound waves from the original “YANNY/LAUREL” recording created by Brad Story, a professor in the field of speech, language, and hearing. Here’s a depiction of him saying “LAUREL.” You can see that the acoustic features are quite similar. Here’s a depiction of him saying “YANNY.” The acoustic features are also similar. Thus, “YANNY” and “LAUREL” are more acoustically alike than you might expect.
The device you use—whether it’s a laptop, phone, or headphones—can influence what you hear based on sound quality. But what if you’re listening on the same device and hear different things than someone next to you? This could be related to the age of your ears. The sounds in “YANNY” are at a higher frequency than those in “LAUREL.” As we age, our ability to hear higher frequencies diminishes. So, if you hear “YANNY,” you might have a younger ear.
Fortunately, with the help of the internet, we can experience both. A clever Twitter user posted audio with the pitch adjusted both down and up. When you listen to it with the pitch lowered by 30%, you will hear “YANNY.” But when the pitch is raised by 30%, you will likely hear “LAUREL.”
Your brain constantly processes a vast amount of stimuli, using existing information and neurological pathways to focus its attention. This is why, at a loud party, you can listen to a friend while also being aware of another conversation. Similarly, your brain unconsciously selects which frequencies in the recording to focus on.
So, what is the final answer? If you heard “LAUREL,” you are correct! The original recording says “LAUREL,” but higher frequencies create ambiguity.
If you enjoy learning about fascinating topics, we recently launched a new podcast called “SIDENOTE,” where we explore intriguing questions and the science behind them. We’d love for you to check it out on iTunes or your preferred podcast app. Your support means a lot to us as we delve into more scientific discussions in this new format. We’re excited to hear your thoughts! Links will be provided below. Don’t forget to subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday.
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This version maintains the core information while removing any informal language and extraneous details.
Sound – A type of energy that travels through the air or another medium and can be heard when it reaches a person’s or animal’s ear. – The sound of the bell ringing signaled the end of the science class.
Waves – Disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another, often seen in water, sound, and light. – In science class, we learned how sound waves travel through the air to reach our ears.
Brain – The organ in the body that controls thoughts, memory, emotions, and the nervous system. – The brain processes the sound waves we hear and helps us understand them.
Hear – To perceive sound by the ear. – When we hear music, our brain processes the sound waves into melodies and rhythms.
Device – A tool or instrument designed for a specific purpose, often used in scientific experiments. – The scientist used a special device to measure the frequencies of different sounds.
Pitch – The quality of a sound that is determined by the frequency of the sound waves, indicating how high or low a sound is. – In our science experiment, we learned how the pitch of a sound changes with the frequency of the waves.
Frequencies – The number of times a wave repeats in a certain period, affecting the pitch of a sound. – Different musical notes have different frequencies, which is why they sound unique.
Priming – A psychological effect where exposure to one stimulus influences the response to another stimulus. – In psychology class, we discussed how priming can affect our perception of sounds.
Audio – Relating to sound or the reproduction of sound. – The audio recording of the lecture helped students review the science concepts at home.
Science – The study of the natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand how sound waves travel and how we hear them.
