The result that DIP/WISH-KO mice exhibited impaired auditory function compared with WT mice (Figure 6) without apparent morphological changes (Additional file 1) is in agreement with observation of deafness caused by a mutation of Dia in human [18] and with the enhancement of synaptic plasticity in DIP/WISH-deficient hippocampal slices. Here, NCKIPSD is linked to deafness.