Mice are frequently used as animal models for human hearing research, yet
their auditory capabilities have not been fully explored. Previous studies have
established auditory threshold sensitivities for pure tone stimuli in CBA/CaJ
mice using ABR and behavioral methodologies. Little is known about how they
perceive their own ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), and nothing is known about
how aging influences this perception. The aim of the present study is to
establish auditory threshold sensitivity for several USV types, as well as to
track these thresholds across the mouse’s lifespan. In order to
determine how well mice detect these complex communication stimuli, several
CBA/CaJ mice were trained and tested at various ages on a detection task using
operant conditioning procedures. Results showed that mice were able to detect
USVs into old age. Not surprisingly, thresholds differed for the different USV
types. Male mice suffered greater hearing loss than females for all calls but
not for 42 kHz tones. In conclusion, the results highlight the importance of
studying complex signals across the lifespan.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.