When you are thinking, why do you hear your voice?

Question

You aren't talking aloud, so why do you hear sound?

Answer 1

i know. i learned about that, i forgot what it's called.

Answer 2

Perhaps the voice in the head triggers the same part of the brain that hears sounds. That is: the brain can't tell them apart.

If this were true, this would then be the same way the eyes and memory work - the brain can't tell the difference between what it sees and what it remembers.

As far as deaf people hearing the voice in the head, I would guess that some do and some don't, depending on where the deafness-causing damage was at (ie: in the brain or in the hearing mechanism itself).

Answer 3

Wow, I've never though about that. This is a really good question.

I'd classify this as psychology. I think you hear your own voice when you thing because it is the one you trust the most. It has to do with individuality. Your Brain's primary goal is to help itself, why would a voice other that your own be concerned about your true mental well-being? Theoretically, if you had complete trust in someone and are incapable of getting in argument with this person, you would be able to hear their voice.

Also, if you don't hear your own voice, you probably are hearing another of your own voice. I guess you would be schizophrenic. Also, it takes a lot of intelligence to talk to yourself. You must be able to predict your own response without anticipating one, hence why you can't truly have someone else's voice in your head since you wouldn't have sufficient information on how to think and respond.

Again, really good question, I don't know if there is a scientific answer that isn't made of speculation like mine.

Answer 4

I have often wondered that myself. I know in my own case it can be a real hassle tho. For instance if I am typing along the words pop into my head, but not all of the words make it to the page I am typing. So I have to go back and re-read what I have wrtten so it sounds good.

Answer 5

I don't know why we do that, but think of this: what sound does a deaf person hear when they talk in their heads, since they've never heard there own voice??? *I've often thought about this one myself*

Answer 6

That's a great question and I can't even think of a guess as how to answer it but it makes me wonder if a deaf person can hear thier own voice?

Answer 7

I'm not so sure it is my voice I'm hearing. Most of the time it doesn't sound like my voice to me. Maybe its my brain's voice.

Answer 8

hearing is really only a function of the brain.... it translates the electrical impulses caused by vibrations picked up from the ears into what we percieve as sounds.... so as long as your brain can recall the pattern of certain vibrations, it can "hear" the sounds.

Answer 9

I'm guessing, but this is probably why.
When you are thinking you are in-fact talking to yourself, and when doing this you are just suppressing your vocal chords from making your voice.

Answer 10

nope and yes, when i am thinking with a loud voie...of cource i can hear myself, Depends the way you are thinking, normaly u dnt hear your voice , others are thinking and talking y themselfs with no sound, others with sound, they are different tipe of people, but we all are normal.

Answer 11

i believe that speaking in your mind is just memory working. Almost like you remember the words "hi my name is ...." and what you consider to be talking in ur head is actually you remembering words and using them to form an inner thought.