Constant intensity sound stimulation with a bone conductor in the freely moving cat

Abstract Bone conductors used in human audiology are recommended for stabilizing the auditory input in behavioural experiments. If the sound is given through a bone conductor fixed on the head of a cat bearing chronically implanted electrodes, the factors modulating the auditory input of an air-conducted sound stimulus (room acoustics, middle ear muscles) can be excluded. As witnessed by the cochlear microphonic responses continuously recorded with chronically implanted round window electrodes, the auditory input remained unaltered even during vigorous motor activity.