Some Aspects of the Auditory Pathway and Audition in the European Mole, Talpa europaea

Abstract

The structure of the lower auditory pathway and certain responses to sounds were studied in the European mole (Talpa europaea). While the animal possesses a structurally normal cochlear nuclear complex and auditory midbrain, the medial superior olive, although small, is prominent and the lateral superior olive is lacking. This characteristic has been observed in other species with essentially low frequency hearing. Behavioural and electrophysiological responses to sound were evoked between 0.1 and 15 kHz, and moles were apparently at least sensitive to tones of 5–8 kHz as they were to low tones. In general, evidence is presented for the mole having essentially normal mammalian auditory characteristics.