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UT researchers test Yanny vs. Laurel in sound lab

Researchers at the University of Texas explain the mechanics of the viral debate.

AUSTIN — AUSTIN -- To get some answers on the Yanny vs. Laurel debate, KVUE visited The University of Texas Moody College of Communication.

There, the department of communication sciences and disorders researchers are experimenting with the audio clip in their sound brain lab where they record brain responses.

Researchers place electrodes on the research subject’s head and sound-blocking ear buds in their ears.

They briefly experimented on Austinite Laurel Fowler, a student at Texas Christian University who was back at home.

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She said she could hear only Laurel – before and after the experiment.

“I just hear a guy with a deep voice saying my name over and over again,” she said. “No change. I don't know how people hear Yanny."

Researchers also played the recording on me, KVUE News Reporter Rebeca Trejo. At first I heard Yanny, but after hearing it about 20 times, I started to hear Laurel in a lower pitch.

The experiment's director said your brain picks up on different cues.

"There are multiple cues in speech,” said Associate Professor of Communication Sciences Bharath Chandrasekaran. “At any point in time our brain biases to go with one or the other."

With the brain waves that were recorded, researchers hope to better understand sound cue perceptions.

Different frequencies also cause the discrepancies.

“The Laurels are latching onto lower frequency cues,” said Chandrasekaran. “And the Yanny's to a higher frequency cue."

Researchers plan to test the audio on 15 people who hear Yanny and 15 people who hear Laurel -- and 15 who hear both.

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