Journal article
A novel behavioural approach to detecting tinnitus in the guinea pig
Journal of neuroscience methods, Vol.213(2), pp.188-195
03/15/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.12.023
PMCID: PMC3580292
PMID: 23291084
Abstract
Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of an external stimulus, is a particularly challenging condition to demonstrate in animals. In any animal model, objective confirmation of tinnitus is essential before we can study the neural changes that produce it. A gap detection method, based on prepulse inhibition of the whole-body startle reflex, is often used as a behavioural test for tinnitus in rodents. However, in the guinea pig the whole-body startle reflex is subject to rapid habituation and hence is not an ideal behavioural measure. By contrast, in this species the Preyer or pinna reflex is a very reliable indicator of the startle response and is much less subject to habituation. We have developed a novel adaptation of the gap detection paradigm, which uses the Preyer reflex to measure the startle response, rather than whole-body movement. Using this method, we have demonstrated changes in gap detection, in guinea pigs where tinnitus had been induced by the administration of a high dose of salicylate. Our data indicate that the Preyer reflex gap detection method is a reliable test for tinnitus in guinea pigs. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A novel behavioural approach to detecting tinnitus in the guinea pig
- Creators
- Joel I. Berger - MRC Institute of Hearing ResearchBen Coomber - MRC Institute of Hearing ResearchTrevor M. Shackleton - MRC Institute of Hearing ResearchAlan R. Palmer - MRC Institute of Hearing ResearchMark N. Wallace - MRC Institute of Hearing Research
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of neuroscience methods, Vol.213(2), pp.188-195
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.12.023
- PMID
- 23291084
- PMCID
- PMC3580292
- ISSN
- 0165-0270
- eISSN
- 1872-678X
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- MC_U135097126 / Medical Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Medical Research Council UK (MRC); European Commission MC_U135097126 / MRC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Medical Research Council UK (MRC)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/15/2013
- Academic Unit
- Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9984618514502771
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