Dr Matthew Mason University positionUniversity Physiologist Dr Matthew Mason is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students. DepartmentsDepartment of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience Home pagehttp://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/staff/m... Research ThemesInterestsI investigate the function and evolution of the middle ear apparatus in vertebrates. Comparative anatomy is backed up with more recent techniques, such as micro-CT and laser interferometry, in order to visualise the middle ear structures and examine their motion. Measurements are incorporated into models of middle ear function, to establish the hearing ranges and sensitivities of the ears, the results being considered in the light of the ecology of the animals. One main focus has been the function of the extraordinarily enlarged ossicles of some subterranean mammals, apparently used for detection of seismic vibrations by a form of inertial bone conduction. Another focus of my research has been the function of the middle ear of amphibians, which I have shown to be considerably more complicated than has previously been realised, and which may also be used for detection of vibrations other than airborne sound waves.  Photomicrograph of the left middle ear apparatus of a tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis), a subterranean rodent from South America View image full-size (1355x1312 pixels) Research Focus
EquipmentComputerised tomography Laser interferometry Collaborators
Associated News ItemsKey publicationsVeselka N, McErlain DD, Holdsworth DW, Eger JL, Chhem RK, Mason MJ, Brain KL, Faure PA, Fenton MB (2010), “A bony connection signals laryngeal echolocation in bats.” Nature 463(7283):939-42 Details Mason MJ (2006), “Evolution of the middle ear apparatus in Talpid moles.” J Morphol 267(6):678-95 Details Mason MJ (2003), “Bone conduction and seismic sensitivity in golden moles (Chrysochloridae). ” J Zool 260: 405-413 Mason MJ, Narins PM (2002), “Vibrometric studies of the middle ear of the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana I. The extrastapes.” J Exp Biol 205(Pt 20):3153-65 Details Mason MJ (2001), “Middle ear structures in fossorial mammals: a comparison with non-fossorial species” Journal of Zoology 255:467-486 Publications2013Mason MJ (2013), “Of mice, moles and guinea pigs: functional morphology of the middle ear in living mammals.” Hear Res 301:4-18 Details Mason MJ, Farr MR (2013), “Flexibility within the middle ears of vertebrates.” J Laryngol Otol 127(1):2-14 Details 2012Reid DG, Mason MJ, Chan BK, Duer MJ (2012), “Characterization of the phosphatic mineral of the barnacle Ibla cumingi at atomic level by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance: comparison with other phosphatic biominerals.” J R Soc Interface 9(72):1510-6 Details 2011Lavender D, Taraskin SN, Mason MJ (2011), “Mass distribution and rotational inertia of "microtype" and "freely mobile" middle ear ossicles in rodents.” Hear Res 282(1-2):97-107 Details Neary MT, Reid DG, Mason MJ, Friscic T, Duer MJ, Cusack M (2011), “Contrasts between organic participation in apatite biomineralization in brachiopod shell and vertebrate bone identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.” J R Soc Interface 8(55):282-8 Details Schwiening CJ, Mason MJ, Thompson M (2011), “Absolute power, not sex, promotes perspiration.” Exp Physiol 96(5):556-8; author reply 559-60 Details Van Dijk P, Mason MJ, Schoffelen RL, Narins PM, Meenderink SW (2011), “Mechanics of the frog ear.” Hear Res 273(1-2):46-58 Details 2010Mason MJ, Lai FW, Li JG, Nevo E (2010), “Middle ear structure and bone conduction in Spalax, Eospalax, and Tachyoryctes mole-rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae).” J Morphol 271(4):462-72 Details Mason MJ, Willi UB, Narins PM (2010), “Comments on "Tympanic-membrane and malleus-incus-complex co-adaptations for high-frequency hearing in mammals", by Sunil Puria & Charles Steele.” Hear Res 267(1-2):1-3 Details Phillips JS, Mason MJ, Dixon H (2010), “Middle ear instrument nomenclature: a taxonomic approach.” BMJ 341:c5137 Details 2009Mason M, Wang M, Narins P (2009), “STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE MIDDLE EAR APPARATUS OF THE AQUATIC FROG, XENOPUS LAEVIS.” Proc Inst Acoust 31:13-21 Details 2008Argyle EC, Mason MJ (2008), “Middle ear structures of Octodon degus (Rodentia: Octodontidae), in comparison with those of subterranean caviomorphs” J Mammal 89: 1447-1455 Farr MRB, Mason MJ (2008), “Middle ear morphology in dormice (Rodentia: Gliridae) ” Mammal Biol 73: 330-334 Jones SE, Mason MJ, Sunkaraneni VS, Baguley DM (2008), “The effect of auditory stimulation on the tensor tympani in patients following stapedectomy.” Acta Otolaryngol 128(3):250-4 Details 2007Mason MJ (2007), “Massive mallei in moles: middle ear adaptations subserving seismic sensitivity” Proc Inst Acoustics 29: 69-76 2006Lewis ER, Narins PM, Jarvis JU, Bronner G, Mason MJ (2006), “Preliminary evidence for the use of microseismic cues for navigation by the Namib golden mole.” J Acoust Soc Am 119(2):1260-8 Details Mason MJ, Lucas SJ, Wise ER, Stein RS, Duer MJ (2006), “Ossicular density in golden moles (Chrysochloridae).” J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 192(12):1349-57 Details 2004Mason MJ (2004), “Functional morphology of the middle ear in Chlorotalpa golden moles (Mammalia, Chrysochloridae): predictions from three models.” J Morphol 261(2):162-74 Details Mason MJ (2004), “The middle ear apparatus of the tuco-tuco Ctenomys sociabilis (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae)” J Mammal 85: 797-805 2003Mason MJ (2003), “Morphology of the middle ear of golden moles (Chrysochloridae)” Journal of Zoology 260:391-403 Mason MJ, Lin CC, Narins PM (2003), “Sex differences in the middle ear of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).” Brain Behav Evol 61(2):91-101 Details van Dijk P, Narins PM, Mason MJ (2003), “Physiological vulnerability of distortion product otoacoustic emissions from the amphibian ear.” J Acoust Soc Am 114(4 Pt 1):2044-8 Details 2002Mason MJ, Narins PM (2002), “Vibrometric studies of the middle ear of the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana II. The operculum.” J Exp Biol 205(Pt 20):3167-76 Details Mason MJ, Narins PM (2002), “Seismic sensitivity in the desert golden mole (Eremitalpa granti): a review.” J Comp Psychol 116(2):158-63 Details van Dijk P, Mason MJ, Narins PM (2002), “Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in frogs: correlation with middle and inner ear properties.” Hear Res 173(1-2):100-8 Details 2001Mason MJ, Narins, PM (2001), “Seismic signal use by fossorial mammals” Am Zool 41: 1171-1184 |
