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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_tympani_muscle

Normally, it is used to protect the ear by reducing the amplitude of certain sounds. For me, it sounds somewhat like what you wrote - a deep rumble, but not electric sounding. It gets quite painful if I do it for too long. I read somewhere that about 30% - 50% of the population can control it at will, although based on asking my friends, that statistic is most likely wrong. I know for certain that some people cannot do it.