Science explains why selective hearing actually happens in your brain

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You may think your spouse’s "selective hearing" is a choice — but science argues otherwise.

The phenomenon of selective hearing is more than choosing when or when not to listen, according to a recent article by Dr. Stella Fulman at Audiology Island in New York.

"Selective hearing is the brain’s ability to prioritize and process certain auditory stimuli over others," she wrote. "It enables individuals to concentrate on particular sounds while ignoring or minimizing the impact of competing noises."

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"This process occurs seamlessly and is often automatic, allowing individuals to maintain focus on relevant information even in challenging environments."

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jorge Rey, a Miami Beach-based audiologist at HearUSA, confirmed that selective hearing "isn’t just a matter of people tuning others out or ignoring them."

Selective hearing is an automatic response in the brain that filters sound, according to experts. (iStock)

"It’s a real neurological process rooted in how the brain processes sound."

Scientifically, selective hearing is known as "auditory selective attention," in which the brain’s built-in filter focuses on "important sounds" and separates meaningful speech from background noise.

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"It’s important to note that selective hearing isn’t just distraction or disinterest — it’s the result of an increased cognitive load and fatigue," Rey said.

"In essence, selective hearing happens because the brain prioritizes certain sounds over others, with the goal of helping us function in noisy environments."

The "cocktail party effect" is the auditory process of focusing on important sounds, such as one person in a conversation. (iStock)

One classic example is hearing a friend’s voice in a crowded restaurant, a phenomenon known as the "cocktail party effect."

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The process involves two key parts of the brain — the auditory cortex, which processes sounds, and the prefrontal cortex, which controls attention and decision-making.

Working memory also latches onto the selected stream of information at the same time, allowing a person to follow a conversation.

"Selective hearing isn’t just distraction or disinterest — it’s the result of an increased cognitive load and fatigue."

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