Habituation (Adaptation) in the Middle-ear Muscle Reflexes of the Cat

Abstract

Habituation (adaptation) in the middle-ear muscle acoustic reflex response of the cat is described, which has been observed as altering reflex threshold sensitivity by as much as 50 db and as affecting continuous contractions to an equally impressive degree. These observations (and their ramifications) are offered as one explanation for so-called “species differences” in reflex sensitivity and as a basis for suggesting that similar effects probably also occur in man.