Research overview: the Preyer reflex and ear-movement responses to sound

The Preyer reflex is a rapid, involuntary movement of the ear in response to a sudden sound, used historically as an indicator of hearing. This overview surveys how such reflexive ear responses appear in cats and how they relate to the animal's overall acoustic startle and orienting behavior. A brisk ear movement to an unexpected noise reflects the tight coupling between the auditory system and the ear musculature. The survey discusses the use of such responses in assessing hearing and the development of more precise methods like brainstem-response testing for clinical evaluation. It frames reflexive ear movements as the most immediate behavioral sign that a sound has been detected. Connecting the Preyer reflex to feline hearing illustrates how deeply auditory input is linked to motor control of the pinnae, the same linkage that underlies deliberate sound-tracking and the rich expressive movements of a cat's ears.