Identification of multiple call categories within the rich repertoire of adult rat 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations: effects of amphetamine and social context
Abstract
Rationale 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by adult rats are heterogeneous; they occur over a wide frequency range, show varying degrees of frequency modulation, and appear to differ in their behavioral significance. However, they have not been extensively categorized. Objectives The main objective of this study was to identify subtypes of 50-kHz USVs emitted by adult rats and to determine how amphetamine (AMPH) or social testing condition affects their relative and absolute production rate and acoustic characteristics. A second objective was to determine the extent of individual differences in call rate, call subtype profile, and acoustic parameters (i.e., duration, bandwidth, and mean peak frequency). Methods Adult male Long-Evans rats were administered systemic amphetamine (0.25-2 mg/kg, IP) and tested individually or with a cage mate for 20 min. Call categories were defined based on visual inspection of over 20,000 USV spectrograms. Surgical devocalization was performed on a subset of AMPH-tested rats in order to confirm the authenticity of call subtypes. Results Fourteen categories of 50-kHz USVs were recognized. Call subtypes were differentially affected by social context, AMPH dose, and time within session. In contrast, the acoustic characteristics of call subtypes were notably stable. Marked and stable inter-individual differences occurred with respect to overall 50-kHz call rate, acoustic parameters, and call profile. Conclusions The present findings, obtained under saline and amphetamine test conditions, provide the first detailed classification of adult rat 50-kHz USVs. Consideration of 50-kHz USV subtypes may advance our understanding of inter-rat communication and affective state.
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Some authors have suggested as many as 14 distinct 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats.
“In recent years, further delineation of 50 kHz calls has occurred, with some authors suggesting as many as 14 distinct USVs.49”
From Ultrasonic Vocalization Analysis as a Novel Metric to Assess Cage Enrichment in Rats (2022) · cites this paper as [49]
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“Negative vocalizations were defined as vocalizations with near-constant frequency ranging from 20 to 25 kHz and lasting from 200 to 2000 ms (Poel & Miczek, 1991; Wright et al., 2010).”
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Pinning in the Play Fighting of Rats: A Comparative Perspective With Methodological Recommendations
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Self-citationUltrasonic Vocalization Analysis as a Novel Metric to Assess Cage Enrichment in Rats
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“We will also analyse USV production in relation to specific USV types (Wright et al., 2010) using spectrograms from our recordings, with a view to correlating specific USV types to treatments and behaviours.”
- Authors
- Wright, J. M., Gourdon, J. C., & Clarke, P. B. S.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Clarke, Paul B. S.
- ORCID
- Clarke, Paul B. S.
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2010-05-06
- Volume
- 211
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-13
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W1970132790
- Cited by
- 362
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 10.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-10516)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Keywords
- 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, amphetamine, social environment, individual differences, acoustic features, call rate, affective states, rats
- MeSH terms
- Amphetamine, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Fourier Analysis, Individuality, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Sound Spectrography, Statistics as Topic, Time Factors, Ultrasonics, Vocalization, Animal, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats
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