AUDITORY-EVOKED BRAIN-STEM RESPONSES IN THE TORPID DEERMOUSE

This study examined auditory-evoked brainstem responses (ABR) in the d eermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) during torpor and arousal. The ABR o f the euthermic deermouse consisted of five waves occurring in a time frame of 10 ms. During torpor, ABR wave I could be elicited at slow, b ut not fast stimulation rates indicating variability in neural activit y along the auditory pathway. Arousal was heralded by the appearance o f all the components of the ABR evoked in response to both slow and fa st click rates signaling functional restoration of auditory neural act ivity during this phase.