What is a mouse's hearing like? - briefly
Mice perceive ultrasonic sounds up to roughly 100 kHz, with peak sensitivity between 10 and 20 kHz, far exceeding the human audible range. Their hearing threshold is about 30 dB SPL, enabling detection of very quiet noises.
What is a mouse's hearing like? - in detail
Mice possess an auditory system tuned to high frequencies, far beyond the range detectable by humans. Their hearing span extends from roughly 1 kHz to 100 kHz, with peak sensitivity between 15 kHz and 30 kHz. This specialization enables detection of ultrasonic vocalizations used for social communication, predator avoidance, and environmental scanning.
The cochlea of a mouse contains approximately 3,500 hair cells, each responding to a narrow frequency band. The basal region, located near the oval window, processes the highest frequencies, while the apical region handles lower tones. Auditory brainstem nuclei—particularly the superior olivary complex and the inferior colliculus—exhibit rapid temporal processing, allowing mice to resolve brief acoustic events lasting only a few milliseconds.
Key physiological features include:
- Acoustic startle reflex: A rapid motor response triggered by sudden sounds above 70 dB SPL, mediated by the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis.
- Gap-detection ability: Sensitivity to silent intervals as short as 2 ms within continuous noise, reflecting precise temporal resolution.
- Frequency discrimination: Capacity to distinguish frequency differences of 1–2 kHz within the ultrasonic range, supporting fine-grained communication.
Behaviorally, mice emit ultrasonic calls between 30 kHz and 100 kHz during mating, territorial disputes, and pup‑mother interactions. These vocalizations are often modulated in frequency and amplitude, conveying individual identity and emotional state. The auditory cortex processes these signals with tonotopic organization, preserving the high‑frequency emphasis of peripheral inputs.
Comparative data indicate that the mouse auditory threshold at 20 kHz is about 10 dB SPL, improving to 5 dB SPL near 50 kHz. In contrast, human thresholds at comparable frequencies are above 70 dB SPL, rendering mouse sounds inaudible without specialized equipment.
Overall, the mouse auditory apparatus combines broad high‑frequency coverage, fine temporal precision, and sophisticated neural circuits to support survival‑critical behaviors and complex social communication.