If moviegoers find the sensory experience of watching the new silent film “The Artist” dramatically different from taking in the average 3-D blockbuster, it’s not just in their heads–audiences are actually using the auditory parts of their brains to create their own soundtracks.

“If we were able to record your brain while you watch a silent movie, we would see your auditory cortex activate, even though there’s not a single sound that impacts your eardrum,” said Kaspar Meyer, research assistant professor of psychology at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute. (FULL ARTICLE: Rebecca Keegan, Los Angeles Times)