Methodological optimization of tinnitus assessment using prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1485; no. Nov 16; pp. 54 - 62
• Main Authors: Longenecker, R.J, Galazyuk, A.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 16.11.2012
• Subjects: Acoustic startle response; Acoustic Stimulation - instrumentation; Acoustic Stimulation - methods; acoustics; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; brain; Data processing; Gap detection; Habituation, Psychophysiologic - physiology; Laboratory animals; Learning; Mice; Nervous system; Neurology; Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex; Reflex, Startle - physiology; Reflexes; Startle response; Tinnitus; Tinnitus - diagnosis; Tinnitus - physiopathology; Gap detection; Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex; Tinnitus
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.02.067

Recently prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) became a popular technique for tinnitus assessment in laboratory animals. This method confers a significant advantage over the previously used time-consuming behavioral approaches utilizing basic mechanisms of conditioning. Although this technique has been successfully used to assess tinnitus in different laboratory animals, many of the finer details of this methodology have not been described enough to be replicated, but are critical for tinnitus assessment. Here we provide detail description of key procedures and methodological issues that provide guidance for newcomers with the process of learning to correctly apply gap detection techniques for tinnitus assessment in laboratory animals. The major categories of these issues include: refinement of hardware for best performance, optimization of stimulus parameters, behavioral considerations, and identification of optimal strategies for data analysis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Tinnitus Neuroscience.