Normal audiogram but poor sensitivity to brief sounds in mice with compromised voltage-gated sodium channels (Scn8amedJ)

The Scn8amedJ mutation of the gene for sodium channels at the nodes of Ranvier slows nerve conduction, resulting in motor abnormalities. This mutation is also associated with loss of spontaneous bursting activity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus. However initial tests of auditory sensitivity in mice homozygous for this mutation, using standard 400-ms tones, demonstrated normal hearing sensitivity. Further testing, reported here, revealed a severely compromised sensitivity to short-duration tones of 10 and 2 ms durations. Such a deficit might be expected to interfere with auditory functions that depend on rapid processing of auditory signals. •Slowed nerve conduction reduces detection of brief sounds in mice.•Detection of longer sounds for typical audiogram is normal.•Reduced detection of brief sounds is similar to that observed in bats at low frequencies.