• Question: i've heard this theory about how if someone was wearing earphones and heard one tune in one earphone and a heard a different tune in the other earphone apparently it makes our brain think there are 3 different tunes and it causes rather unpleasent effects e.g. headaches,seizures and passing out one example is the lavender town syndrome is it TRUE though?

    Asked by to Edward, Ian, Mathew, Naomi, sakshisharda on 17 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Mathew Piasecki

      Mathew Piasecki answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Good question, I’ve never heard of that but I don’t imagine it’s true. We’re quite good at hearing multiple things at once, it contributes to things like balance. Try standing on one leg for 30 seconds, then do it again with your fingers in your ears, you’ll probably notice a difference.

      Other than that, I’m sure between you and your friends you have access to 2 iPods and 2 sets of earphones, so try it!

    • Photo: Ian Stephenson

      Ian Stephenson answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      If it were true, then I’m sure it would be more widely documented, but like Mathew says – do the experiment.

      One thing that DOES work is to get a microphone, put it through a delay of about 0.2 seconds, and then play back just the delayed signal through headphones (you can probably do this on a mobile phone with the right app!). Now get you victim^X^X^X^X^X^ experimental subject to wear the headphones and speak into the mic.

      The result is that they almost can’t speak! The speaker pause waiting for their voice to catch up with themselves… with hilarious consequences.

    • Photo: Naomi Osborne

      Naomi Osborne answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      I don’t think this is true – but do let us know the results of your first independent experiment, 13dpender!

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