Ultrasonic Communication in Rats: Can Playback of 50-kHz Calls Induce Approach Behavior?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 2; no. 12; p. e1365
• Main Authors: Wöhr, Markus, Schwarting, Rainer K. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.12.2007; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Animal Communication; Animal experimentation; Animals; Approach behavior; Attention; Autism; Behavior; Behavior, Animal; Calling behavior; Communication; Conspecifics; Emotional behavior; Environmental factors; Food; Male; Motor Activity; Neuroscience/Behavioral Neuroscience; Peak frequency; Physiological psychology; Physiology; Playback; Psychopharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproductive behavior; Rodents; Social behavior; Social factors; Social interactions; Social isolation; Studies; Ultrasonics

Rats emit distinct types of ultrasonic vocalizations, which differ depending on age, the subject's current state and environmental factors. Since it was shown that 50-kHz calls can serve as indices of the animal's positive subjective state, they have received increasing experimental attent...