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The offset auditory brainstem response in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Evidence for multiple underlying
Jason Mulsow1, James J Finneran2, Dorian S Houser1
1National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive #200, San Diego, California 92106, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|July 9, 2021
Summary
Investigating dolphin hearing, this study reveals the auditory brainstem response (ABR) to sound offset involves two distinct neural activities. These findings enhance our understanding of auditory processing in cetaceans.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Physiology
Background:
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) to stimulus onset is well-studied in mammals, including dolphins.
- The ABR evoked by sound offset is less understood, particularly in marine mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the cochlear origins of the dolphin offset ABR.
- To compare offset ABR morphologies using toneburst and noiseburst stimuli.
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying dolphin auditory processing.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on seven bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
- Toneburst and spectrally "pink" broadband noisebursts were used as auditory stimuli.
- Highpass noise was employed to isolate specific cochlear regions.
Main Results:
- The offset ABR in dolphins appears to comprise at least two distinct response types.
- An "across-place" response may originate from basally shifted neural units, similar to onset ABR.
- A "within-place" response suggests a true offset detection occurring at or above the cochlear nucleus.
Conclusions:
- Dolphin sound offset ABR involves complex neural processing beyond simple stimulus termination.
- Findings differentiate between onset-related and true offset-specific auditory pathways.
- This research provides novel insights into the neurophysiological basis of hearing in cetaceans.
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