Behaviorally determined auditory sensitivity of the mongolian gerbil

Thirteen mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatis) were trained in a shock avoidance task based on that developed by Miller [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 48, 513–523 (1970)] for the chinchilla. The gerbil proved to be readily trainable and behaviorally stable. Thresholds were obtained by a method of limits, and in the case of one animal, by generating psychometric functions, from 0.1 to 60.0 kHz. For pure tones between 1.0 and 16.0 kHz, the threshold of the mongolian gerbil is about 4.6 dB SPL. Between 1.0 and 0.1 kHz, sensitivity declines at a rate of 12 dB/octave. Between 16.0 and 40.0 kHz, threshold increases at a rate of 13 dB/octave, and above 40.0 kHz at a rate of 66 dB/octave. Thresholds derived from psychometric functions were slightly lower than those obtained by the method of limits. [Work supported by grants from the NINDS. I thank Carol Sanes for her contribution to this research.]