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Cited by 88Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorPrimate Behavior and EcologyAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Are 50-kHz calls used as play signals in the playful interactions of rats? I. Evidence from the timing and context of their use

Himmler, B.T., Kisko, T.M., Euston, D.R., Kolb, B., Pellis, S.M.·2014·Behavioural Processes
DOI 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.04.014
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Abstract

During playful interactions, rats emit increased levels of 50-kHz vocalizations. It is possible that these vocalizations are used as play signals that promote and maintain playful contact. The study investigated this possibility. It was predicted that if these vocalizations are used as play signals, they should be more prevalent (1) before an attack, (2) in attacks leading to wrestling, and (3) in males compared to females, as males play more roughly. Moreover, given that there are at least 15 different subtypes of 50-kHz calls, it is possible that different calls are used in different contexts. Therefore, our prediction (4) was that different subtypes would be used for initiating and terminating playful contact. Pairs of same-sex juveniles were tested so that video recordings of their play and audio recordings of their vocalizations were synchronized. 50-kHz vocalizations occur more often before an attack and in male pairs. Specific calls were associated with specific types of behaviors and these associations differed between male and female rats. However, calls were not more frequent in attacks leading to wrestling than in attacks leading to withdrawal. The data provide qualified support for the hypothesis that 50-kHz vocalizations function as play signals.

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  • Play fighting between rats, as well as play between a rat and a human, are known to elicit intense 50 kHz calling, while threatening scenarios, such as an intruder or exposure to a predator, are more commonly associated with 22 kHz calls.

    “Play fighting between rats, as well as play between a rat and a human, are known to elicit intense 50 kHz calling,20,25 while threatening scenarios, such as an intruder or exposure to a predator is more commonly associated with 22 kHz calls.46”

    From Ultrasonic Vocalization Analysis as a Novel Metric to Assess Cage Enrichment in Rats (2022) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors
Himmler, B. T., Kisko, T. M., Euston, D. R., Kolb, B., & Pellis, S. M.
Affiliations
University of Lethbridge (CA)
Corresponding author
Himmler, B.T.
ORCID
Venue
Behavioural Processes
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-07
Volume
106
Pages
60-66
ISSN
0376-6357 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.beproc.2014.04.014
OpenAlex
W1979510526
Cited by
87
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 3
FWCI
8.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Behavioural Processes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
50-kHz vocalizations, play signals, playful interaction, rats, juvenile social behavior, attack behavior, wrestling, sex differences
MeSH terms
Animals, Female, Male, Social Behavior, Vocalization, Animal, Rats

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