Audiogram of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Data from: Heffner, H.E., Heffner, R.S., Contos, C., and Ott, T. (1994) Audiogram of the hooded Norway rat. Hearing Research,73, 244-248.
Absolute thresholds (in dB re 20 µN/m2) for laboratory rats (designated A through E)
|
Frequency (in kHz) |
Individual Thresholds (in dB) |
Average |
|||
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
||
|
.250 |
— |
— |
83 |
85 |
84 |
|
.500 |
56 |
53 |
72 |
73 |
64 |
|
1 |
27 |
21 |
21 |
25 |
23.5 |
|
2 |
24 |
18 |
22.5 |
23.5 |
22 |
|
2.4 |
24 |
22 |
— |
— |
23 |
|
3.2 |
19 |
21 |
— |
— |
20 |
|
4 |
13 |
13 |
— |
— |
13 |
|
8 |
-5 |
4 |
— |
— |
-0.5 |
|
16 |
11 |
11 |
— |
— |
11 |
|
22.4 |
5 |
4 |
— |
— |
4.5 |
|
32 |
1.5 |
-4 |
— |
— |
-1.25 |
|
38 |
-1 |
1 |
— |
— |
0 |
|
45 |
18 |
|
— |
— |
18 |
|
64 |
28 |
32 |
— |
— |
30 |
|
70 |
65 |
74 |
— |
— |
69 |
Lowest and highest frequencies audible at sound
pressure levels (SPL) ranging from 30 to 70 dB SPL
|
SPL (in dB) |
Lowest audible frequency (in kHz) |
Highest audible frequency (in kHz) |
|
70 |
.290 |
70 |
|
60 |
.530 |
68 |
|
50 |
.630 |
67 |
|
40 |
.750 |
65 |
|
30 |
.890 |
64 |
Additional Parameters:
Body weight = 350 g
Functional interaural distance= 150 µs
(Time required for sound to travel around the head from one auditory meatus to the other.)
Comments: Threshold values taken from original data.
For an audiogram of an albino rat, see Kelly, J.B. and Masterton, R.B. (1977) Auditory sensitivity of the albino rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 91, 930-936.