Study: Too much coffee can make you hear things

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new study suggests that people’s ears play tricks on them when they drink too much coffee.

Researchers at La Trobe University in Australia studied a group of volunteers who were told to consume high levels of caffeine and listen to a white noise machine. The test subjects were told “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby would play in the background, and to press a button if they heard it. The song never actually played, but several subjects thought they heard it.

Researchers say the combination of caffeine and stress can affect the likelihood of a person experiencing psychosis-like symptoms.