Noise-exposed (Exposed) and sham-exposed (Sham) rats tested without footshocks at 1, 2, and 4 weeks post-noise-exposure.

<p>Overall, exposed rats had higher silent trial licking rates compared to sham rats across a broad range of silent trial categories, especially at 1 and 2 weeks post-exposure. The higher licking rates are suggestive of tinnitus-like behavior. In exposed rats, the rate of silent trial licking, as well as the number of rats that exhibited elevated rates across a range of silent trial categories, tended to decrease over time. In sham-exposed rats, the rate of silent trial licking only slightly increased over time.