A new Method for Hearing Tests in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

Experiments are described in which the hearing in guinea pigs is determined by a method where response to tones is obtained as an inhibition of the cold shivering in the slightly refrigerated animals. The conditioning and recording technique is described and results of threshold determinations in normal hearing as well as in animals with hearing defects are presented. The inapplicability of the pinna reflex in quantitative test of the hearing function is confirmed and the hazardous outcome of this test is explained. In return the extreme value of the pinna reflex as a recruitment test is demonstrated.