Effects of simulated N-waves on the auditory brainstem response of three species of pinnipeds

• DOI: 10.1121/1.424502
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:05:41Z
• Authors: Ann E. Bowles; Larry Wolski; Erik Berg
• Keywords: Zalophus californianus; Auditory brainstem response; Sonic boom; Harbor seal; Sound exposure

Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) on breeding beaches hauling areas can be exposed to sonic booms from existing planned civilian supersonic aircraft. Although carpet do not produce detectable threshold shifts in humans, the available anatomical information is adequate extrapolate models for humans pinnipeds. Therefore, rehabilitated stranded California lions (Zalophus californianus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), elephant (Mirounga angustirostris) were simulated N-waves with levels up 6 psf rise times as low 0.4 ms. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used estimate sensitivity before after exposure. test signals broadband clicks, tone pips at 2 8 kHz. Level of least ABR waveform best sensitivity, while latencies major peaks monitor recovery rates. Latency (2 ms) that recovered over course a 2-h post-exposure monitoring period found some individuals, but these did correspond change any animal. [Work supported by NASA Contract NAS1-20101.]