Gap PPI Tests
Objective: Gap detection testing using prepulse inhibition paradigm to assess for tinnitus-related gap filling deficits in mice with noise-induced cochlear neuropathy
This is a Gap PPI Tests protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 2 equipment items. Extracted from a 2013 paper published in Journal of Neurophysiology.
Model and subjects
mouse • Not specified in provided text • unknown • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Noise exposure conditions • Gap PPI testing • Measure acoustic startle response
Primary readouts
- Acoustic startle response magnitude
- Prepulse inhibition of startle
- Gap detection ability via gap PPI tests
- Auditory brainstem response wave 1 amplitude
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Noise exposure conditions
Mice were exposed to either neuropathic noise, nonneuropathic noise, or served as unexposed controls
Note: Neuropathic noise exposure causes immediate, permanent degeneration of cochlear nerve despite complete threshold recovery and lack of hair cell damage
View evidence from paper
“Mice exposed either to a neuropathic noise or to a lower-intensity, nonneuropathic noise and in unexposed control mice”
Gap PPI testing
Gap detection testing using prepulse inhibition of startle paradigm to assess for tinnitus-related gap filling deficits
Note: Gap PPI tests revealed limited gap detection deficits in mice with cochlear neuropathy only for certain gap-startle latencies
View evidence from paper
“Gap PPI tests, often used to assess tinnitus, revealed limited gap detection deficits in mice with cochlear neuropathy only for certain gap-startle latencies”
Measure acoustic startle response
Measure enhanced ASR in mice with cochlear neuropathy compared to controls
Note: Mice with cochlear neuropathy displayed hyperresponsivity to sound, evidenced by enhanced ASR
View evidence from paper
“Mice with cochlear neuropathy displayed hyperresponsivity to sound, evidenced by enhanced ASR and PPI”
Measure prepulse inhibition of startle
Measure PPI responses in mice with and without cochlear neuropathy
Note: Enhanced PPI observed in mice with cochlear neuropathy; exposed mice without neuronal loss showed control-like responses
View evidence from paper
“Mice with cochlear neuropathy displayed hyperresponsivity to sound, evidenced by enhanced ASR and PPI, while exposed mice without neuronal loss showed controllike responses”
Record auditory brainstem response
Measure ABR wave 1 and later peaks to assess cochlear nerve activity and brainstem response
Note: Wave 1 significantly reduced in neuropathic mice; later peaks unchanged or enhanced, suggesting compensatory neural hyperactivity
View evidence from paper
“Despite significantly reduced wave 1 of the auditory brainstem response, representing cochlear nerve activity, later peaks were unchanged or enhanced”