EMAIL mjm68@cam.ac.uk

College St Catharine's College

Department

Physiology, Development and Neuroscience

School

Biological Sciences

Institute

Cambridge Hearing Group

Click to view home page

Click to view ORCID profile

Research Theme Beyond the Neuron

Research Focus

Keywords

Middle Ear

Inner Ear

Clinical Conditions

Hearing and balance deficits

Equipment & Techniques

Microscopy

Computerised tomography

Science Culture

Mentorship

Teaching

Public Outreach

Back

Professor Matthew Mason MA PhD PGCert SFHEA FRSB FAcadMEd

University Position

Professor

Interests

I investigate the structure, function and evolution of the peripheral auditory system. 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.

The ear of the naked mole-rat

The inner ear of the naked mole-rat

Collaborators

Cambridge

Ewan St. John Smith

David Keays

External

Key Publications

Internal vascular channel architecture in human auditory ossicles.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13661
Journal: Journal of Anatomy
E-pub date: 31 Aug 2022
Authors: SM Manoharan, R Gray, J Hamilton, MJ Mason

Evidence of auditory insensitivity to vocalization frequencies in two frogs.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12145-5
Journal: Sci Rep
E-pub date: 21 Sep 2017
Authors: S Goutte, MJ Mason, J Christensen-Dalsgaard, F Montealegre-Z, BD Chivers, FA Sarria-S, MM Antoniazzi, C Jared, L Almeida Sato, L Felipe Toledo

Early development of the malleus and incus in humans.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12520
Journal: J Anat
E-pub date: 1 Dec 2016
Authors: CM Burford, MJ Mason

Structure and function of the mammalian middle ear. I: Large middle ears in small desert mammals.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12313
Journal: J Anat
E-pub date: 1 Feb 2016
Authors: MJ Mason

Structure and function of the mammalian middle ear. II: Inferring function from structure.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12316
Journal: J Anat
E-pub date: 1 Feb 2016
Authors: MJ Mason

Publications

Comparative morphology of the avian bony columella.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25278
Journal: Anat Rec (Hoboken)
E-pub date: 1 May 2024
Authors: J Peacock, GM Spellman, DJ Field, MJ Mason, G Mayr

Parallel evolution of semicircular canal form and sensitivity in subterranean mammals.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-022-01578-7
Journal: J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol
E-pub date: 1 Nov 2022
Authors: J Goyens, S Baeckens, ESJ Smith, J Pozzi, MJ Mason

Hearing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris): Audiogram, Sound Localization, and Ear Anatomy

DOI: http://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1466661/v1
Journal:
E-pub date: 24 Mar 2022
Authors: RS Heffner, G Koay, HE Heffner, MJ Mason

The naked truth: a comprehensive clarification and classification of current ‘myths’ in naked mole-rat biology.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12791
Journal: Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc
E-pub date: 1 Feb 2022
Authors: R Buffenstein, V Amoroso, B Andziak, S Avdieiev, J Azpurua, AJ Barker, NC Bennett, MA Brieño-Enríquez, GN Bronner, C Coen, MA Delaney, CM Dengler-Crish, YH Edrey, CG Faulkes, D Frankel, G Friedlander, PA Gibney, V Gorbunova, C Hine, MM Holmes, JUM Jarvis, Y Kawamura, N Kutsukake, C Kenyon, WT Khaled, T Kikusui, J Kissil, S Lagestee, J Larson, A Lauer, LA Lavrenchenko, A Lee, JB Levitt, GR Lewin, KN Lewis Hardell, TD Lin, MJ Mason, D McCloskey, M McMahon, K Miura, K Mogi, V Narayan, TP O'Connor, K Okanoya, MJ O'Riain, TJ Park, NJ Place, K Podshivalova, ME Pamenter, SJ Pyott, J Reznick, JG Ruby, AB Salmon, J Santos-Sacchi, DK Sarko, A Seluanov, A Shepard, M Smith, KB Storey, X Tian, EN Vice, M Viltard, A Watarai, E Wywial, M Yamakawa, ED Zemlemerova, M Zions, ESJ Smith

Functional anatomy of the middle and inner ears of the red fox, in comparison to domestic dogs and cats.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13159
Journal: J Anat
E-pub date: 1 Jun 2020
Authors: EP Malkemper, MJ Mason, H Burda

The middle ear of the pink fairy armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus (Xenarthra, Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae): comparison with armadillo relatives using computed tomography.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13146
Journal: J Anat
E-pub date: 1 May 2020
Authors: AP Basso, NS Sidorkewicj, EB Casanave, MJ Mason

A Putative Mechanism for Magnetoreception by Electromagnetic Induction in the Pigeon Inner Ear.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.048
Journal: Curr Biol
E-pub date: 2 Dec 2019
Authors: S Nimpf, GC Nordmann, D Kagerbauer, EP Malkemper, L Landler, A Papadaki-Anastasopoulou, L Ushakova, A Wenninger-Weinzierl, M Novatchkova, P Vincent, T Lendl, M Colombini, MJ Mason, DA Keays

Mechanisms of Vibration Detection in Mammals

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22293-2_10
Journal:
E-pub date: 1 Aug 2019
Authors: MJ Mason, LMD Wenger

Ectopic otoconial formation in the lagena of the pigeon inner ear.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1242/bio.034462
Journal: Biol Open
E-pub date: 2 Aug 2018
Authors: EP Malkemper, MJ Mason, D Kagerbauer, S Nimpf, DA Keays

The middle and inner ears of the Palaeogene golden mole Namachloris: A comparison with extant species.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20779
Journal: J Morphol
E-pub date: 1 Mar 2018
Authors: MJ Mason, NC Bennett, M Pickford

Internally coupled ears in living mammals.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00422-015-0675-1
Journal: Biol Cybern
E-pub date: 1 Oct 2016
Authors: MJ Mason

Ear Structures of the Naked Mole-Rat, Heterocephalus glaber, and Its Relatives (Rodentia: Bathyergidae).

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167079
Journal: PLoS One
E-pub date: 1 Aug 2016
Authors: MJ Mason, HL Cornwall, ESJ Smith

Vocal development during postnatal growth and ear morphology in a shrew that generates seismic vibrations, Diplomesodon pulchellum.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2015.06.012
Journal: Behav Processes
E-pub date: 1 Sep 2015
Authors: AS Zaytseva, IA Volodin, MJ Mason, R Frey, G Fritsch, OG Ilchenko, EV Volodina

The Frog Inner Ear: Picture Perfect?

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-015-0506-z
Journal: J Assoc Res Otolaryngol
E-pub date: 1 Apr 2015
Authors: MJ Mason, JM Segenhout, A Cobo-Cuan, PM Quiñones, P van Dijk

Functional morphology of rodent middle ears

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107360150.015
Journal:
E-pub date: 1 Jan 2015
Authors: MJ Mason

Of mice, moles and guinea pigs: functional morphology of the middle ear in living mammals.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2012.10.004
Journal: Hearing Research
E-pub date: 1 Jul 2013
Authors: MJ Mason

Flexibility within the middle ears of vertebrates.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215112002496
Journal: J Laryngol Otol
E-pub date: 1 Jan 2013
Authors: MJ Mason, MRB Farr

Mass distribution and rotational inertia of “microtype” and “freely mobile” middle ear ossicles in rodents.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2011.09.003
Journal: Hearing Research
E-pub date: 1 Dec 2011
Authors: D Lavender, SN Taraskin, MJ Mason

Mechanics of the frog ear

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2010.02.004
Journal: Hear Res
E-pub date: 1 Mar 2011
Authors: P Van Dijk, MJ Mason, RLM Schoffelen, PM Narins, SWF Meenderink

Middle ear structure and bone conduction in Spalax, Eospalax, and Tachyoryctes mole-rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae).

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10810
Journal: Journal of Morphology
E-pub date: 1 Apr 2010
Authors: MJ Mason, FWS Lai, J-G Li, E Nevo

A bony connection signals laryngeal echolocation in bats.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/nature08737
Journal: Nature
E-pub date: 18 Feb 2010
Authors: N Veselka, DD McErlain, DW Holdsworth, JL Eger, RK Chhem, MJ Mason, KL Brain, PA Faure, MB Fenton

Middle ear morphology in dormice (Rodentia : Gliridae)

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2007.02.010
Journal: MAMM BIOL
E-pub date: 1 Aug 2008
Authors: MRB Farr, MJ Mason

Middle ear structures of Octodon degus (Rodentia: Octodontidae), in comparison with those of subterranean caviomorphs

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1644/07-MAMM-A-401.1
Journal: J MAMMAL
E-pub date: 1 Aug 2008
Authors: EC Argyle, MJ Mason

The effect of auditory stimulation on the tensor tympani in patients following stapedectomy.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/00016480701509925
Journal: Acta Oto-Laryngologica
E-pub date: 22 Feb 2008
Authors: SEM Jones, MJ Mason, VS Sunkaraneni, DM Baguley

Ossicular density in golden moles (Chrysochloridae).

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-006-0163-0
Journal: J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol
E-pub date: 1 Dec 2006
Authors: MJ Mason, SJ Lucas, ER Wise, RS Stein, MJ Duer

Evolution of the middle ear apparatus in Talpid moles.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10430
Journal: J Morphol
E-pub date: 1 Jun 2006
Authors: MJ Mason

Preliminary evidence for the use of microseismic cues for navigation by the Namib golden mole.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1121/1.2151790
Journal: J Acoust Soc Am
E-pub date: 1 Feb 2006
Authors: ER Lewis, PM Narins, JUM Jarvis, G Bronner, MJ Mason

Functional morphology of the middle ear in Chlorotalpa golden moles (Mammalia, Chrysochloridae): predictions from three models.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10235
Journal: J Morphol
E-pub date: 31 Aug 2004
Authors: MJ Mason