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Modern Imaging Techniques as a Window to Prehistoric Auditory Worlds

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Insights from Comparative Hearing Research

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 49))

Abstract

Direct evidence regarding the evolution of vertebrate hearing is available only through the examination of fossils. The fossilized bony anatomy of the middle ear and otic capsule can provide information about auditory adaptations present in extinct animals, which can in turn be used to infer hearing capability in these taxa and to trace the evolutionary history of hearing. However, this internal anatomy is rarely visible in fossils. Historically, fortuitously broken or incomplete specimens, or destructive serial sectioning techniques, have been the only ways in which ear structures could be reconstructed. Modern nondestructive X-ray microcomputed-tomographic (μCT) approaches avoid this problem and allow ear morphology to be assessed in many more taxa, as virtually any three-dimensionally preserved skull can be analyzed reproducibly. This chapter reviews advances in our understanding of vertebrate hearing evolution that have occurred since the application of this imaging technology. In addition to insights gained from the analysis of key fossils, μCT also allows inferences to be made regarding the auditory and vestibular systems of extinct taxa through quantitative analyses of the ear regions of living species. Problems affecting μCT analyses of fossils are discussed and the authors comment on the outlook for future hearing-related μCT research.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Geoffrey Manley (Technische Universität München, Germany) for technical discussion of hearing research and Larry Witmer (Ohio University, USA) for discussion of interpretation of otic capsule morphology from X-ray CT scan data, and for making images of sauropsid inner ear segmentations available for inclusion here. This work was supported by NERC Small Grants NE/E008380/1 to PMB and NE/H012176/1 to S. A. Walsh, and NSF Grants DEB 0316558 EF0629959 to Humboldt Award to Z-X. Luo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, UK

    Stig A. Walsh

  2. Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th St., Chicago, IL, USA

    Zhe-Xi Luo

  3. The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Paul M. Barrett

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  1. Stig A. Walsh
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  2. Zhe-Xi Luo
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  3. Paul M. Barrett
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Correspondence to Stig A. Walsh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Health Science, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Christine Köppl

  2. School of Medicine and Health Science, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Geoffrey A. Manley

  3. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

  4. Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

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Walsh, S.A., Luo, ZX., Barrett, P.M. (2013). Modern Imaging Techniques as a Window to Prehistoric Auditory Worlds. In: Köppl, C., Manley, G., Popper, A., Fay, R. (eds) Insights from Comparative Hearing Research. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 49. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/2506_2013_32

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