Abstract
Ultrasonic calls used by rats during intraspecies communication have acoustic features, which can be selectively recognized by recipients, and possess a quantitative dimension reflecting the magnitude of the sender’s response. This paper reviews basic principles of animal communication with particular attention to rat calls, and the features of ultrasonic calls, which could reflect such a quantitative aspect. Isolation calls of rat pups vary in frequency and duration and have changing sonographic structure over time. It is hypothesized that the quantitative “message” for the dam is encoded not only in the number of calls but also in frequency sweeps. The 22-kHz alarm calls of adults are characterized by a relatively constant sound frequency, marginal frequency modulation, and remarkable variability in call duration. It is hypothesized that quantitative aspect of these calls may be encoded in call length. Finally, the 50-kHz calls of adults, which are emitted in appetitive behavior are very short calls, with a relatively constant call duration, and a variable sound frequency. It is hypothesized that the peak frequency as well as the number of calls per time unit reflect the quantitative aspect in 50-kHz calls.
References
R. J. Barfield L. A. Geyer (1975) ArticleTitleThe ultrasonic postejaculatory vocalization and the postejaculatory refractory period of the male rat J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 88 732–34
R. J. Blanchard D. C. Blanchard (1989) ArticleTitleAntipredator defensive behaviors in a visible burrow system J. Comp. Psychol. 103 IssueID1 70–82 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.103.1.70 Occurrence Handle2924531 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1M7mvFegug%3D%3D
R. J. Blanchard D. C. Blanchard R. Agullana S. M. Weiss (1991) ArticleTitleTwenty-two kHz alarm cries to presentation of a predatorby laboratory rats living in visible burrow systems Physiol. Behav. 50 967–972 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9384(91)90423-L Occurrence Handle1805287 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK383htlSruw%3D%3D
R. J. Blanchard R. L. Agullana L. McGee S. Weiss D. C. Blanchard (1992) ArticleTitleSex differences in the incidence and sonographic characteristics of antipredator ultrasonic cries in the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) J. Comp. Psychol. 106 IssueID3 270–277 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.106.3.270 Occurrence Handle1395496 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s%2FgvFKhtQ%3D%3D
R. J. Blanchard E. B. Yudko C. D. Blanchard H. K. Taukulis (1993) ArticleTitleHigh-frequency (35–70 kHz) ultrasonic vocalization in rats confronted with anesthetized conspecific: Effects of gepironeethanol, and diazepam Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 44 313–319 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0091-3057(93)90467-8 Occurrence Handle8095340 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhtFKltL8%3D
M. S. Blumberg (1992) ArticleTitleRodent ultrasonic short calls: locomotion, biomechanics, and communication J. Comp. Psychol. 106 360–365 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.106.4.360 Occurrence Handle1451418 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s%2FotlSntw%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski (1981) ArticleTitleGrowling component of vocalization as a quantitative index of carbachol-induced emotional-defensive response in cats Acta Neurobiol. 41 33–51 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL3M3nvVOguw%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski (1994) ArticleTitleUltrasonic vocalization induced by intracerebral carbachol in rats: localization and dose-response study Behav. Brain. Res. 63 133–143 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0166-4328(94)90084-1 Occurrence Handle7999296 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXmsVKqtbc%3D
S. M. Brudzynski (2001) ArticleTitlePharmacological and behavioral characteristics of 22 kHz alarm calls in rats Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 25 611–617 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0149-7634(01)00058-6 Occurrence Handle11801286 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktVOjuw%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski E. M. Chiu (1995) ArticleTitleBehavioural responses of laboratory rats to playback of 22 kHz ultrasonic calls Physiol. Behav. 57 1039–1044 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9384(95)00003-2 Occurrence Handle7652022 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlslOqsb0%3D
S. M. Brudzynski Eckersdorf. (1988) ArticleTitleVocalization accompanying emotional-aversive response induced by carbachol in the cat. Reproducibility and dose-response study Neuropsychopharmacology 1 311–320 Occurrence Handle3251509 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXltFWmsQ%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski D. Ociepa (1992) ArticleTitleUltrasonic vocalization of laboratory rats in response to handling and touch Physiol. Behav. 52 655–660 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9384(92)90393-G Occurrence Handle1409936 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s%2FivVynug%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski A. Pniak (2002) ArticleTitleSocial contacts and production of 50 kHz short ultrasonic calls in adult rats J. Comp. Psychol. 116 73–82 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.116.1.73 Occurrence Handle11926686
S. M. Brudzynski F. Bihari D. Ociepa X. W. Fu (1993a) ArticleTitleAnalysis of 22 kHz ultrasonic vocalization in laboratory rats: long and short calls Physiol. Behav. 54 215–221 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9384(93)90102-L Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3szot12ltQ%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski B. Eckersdorf H. Golebiewski (1993b) ArticleTitleEmotional-aversive nature of the behavioral response induced by carbachol in cats J. Psychatr. Neurosci. 18 38–45 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s3htlOktw%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski B. Eckersdorf H. Golebiewski (1995) ArticleTitleRegional specificity of the emotional-aversive response induced by carbachol in the cat brain: A quantitative mapping study J Psychiatr Neurosci. 20 119–132 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2M3hslyksQ%3D%3D
S. M. Brudzynski P. Kehoe M. Callahan (1999) ArticleTitleSonographic structure of isolation-induced ultrasonic calls of rat pups Dev. Psychobiol. 34 195–204 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1098-2302(199904)34:3<195::AID-DEV4>3.0.CO;2-S Occurrence Handle10204095 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3itVaqtA%3D%3D
S. A. Brunelli (2005) ArticleTitleSelective breeding for an infant phenotype: Rat pup ultrasonic vocalization (USV) Behav. Genet. 35 53–65 Occurrence Handle15674532
J. S. Buchwald C. A. Shipley (1985) Comparative model of infant cry B. M. Lester C. F. Z. Boukydis (Eds) Infant cry Plenum Press New York 279–305
R.-G. Busnel (1977) Acoustic communication T. S. Sebeok (Eds) How animals communicate Indiana University Press Bloomington 233–251
F. R. D‘Amato E. Scalera C. Sarli A. Moles (2005) ArticleTitlePup calls, mothers rush: Does maternal responsiveness affect the amount of ultrasonic vocalization in mouse pups? Behav. Genet. 35 103–112 Occurrence Handle15674537
M. Danesi (1993) Messages and meanings: An introduction to semantics Canadian Scholars 9 Press Inc Toronto
U. A. Eco (1976) theory of semiotics Indiana University Press Bloomington
J. Eder H. Rembold (1992) ArticleTitleBiosemiotics–a paradigm of biology. Biological signalling on the verge of deterministic chaos Naturwissenschaften 79 60–67 Occurrence Handle1565162 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK383ivVSntA%3D%3D
J. Elsner D. Suter S. Alder (1990) ArticleTitleMicroanalysis of ultrasound vocalizations of young rats: Assessment of the behavioural teratogenicity of methylmercury Neurotoxicol Teratol. 12 7–14 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0892-0362(90)90106-M Occurrence Handle2314362 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXitFahtLs%3D
Francis, R. L. 22-kHz calls by isolated rats.Nature 265: 236-238
X. W. Fu S. M. Brudzynski (1994) ArticleTitleHigh-frequency ultrasonic vocalization induced by intracerebral glutamate in rats Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 49 835–841 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0091-3057(94)90231-3 Occurrence Handle7886095 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXitlCit7g%3D
S. Geen P. Marler (1979) The analysis of animal communication P. Marler J. G. Vandenbergh (Eds) Handbook of behavioral neurobiology vol. 3. Social behavior and communication Plenum Press New York 73–158
O. Hasson (1994) ArticleTitleCheating signals J. Theor. Biol. 167 223–238 Occurrence Handle10.1006/jtbi.1994.1065
M. A. Hofer (1996) ArticleTitleMultiple regulators of ultrasonic vocalization in the infant rat Psychoneuroendocrinology 21 203–217 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0306-4530(95)00042-9 Occurrence Handle8774063 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK28zntVWhtg%3D%3D
M. A. Hofer J. R. Masmela S. A. Brunelli H. N. Shair (1998) ArticleTitleThe ontogeny of maternal potentiation of the infant rats 9 isolation call Dev. Psychobiol. 33 189–201 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1098-2302(199811)33:3<189::AID-DEV1>3.0.CO;2-N Occurrence Handle9810471 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FivVWltA%3D%3D
R. A. Johnstone (1996) ArticleTitleMultiple displays in animal communication ‘backup signals’ and ‘multiple messages’ Philos. Tr. R. S. S-B. 351 329–338
U. Jürgens (1979) ArticleTitleVocalization as emotional indicator. A neuroethological study in the squirrel monkey Bhaviour 69 88–117
U. Jürgens (2002) ArticleTitleNeural pathways underlying vocal control Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 26 235–258 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0149-7634(01)00068-9 Occurrence Handle11856561
M.-Th. Kaltwasser (1990) ArticleTitleAcoustic signalling in the black rat (Rattus rattus) J. Comp. Psychol. 104 227–232 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.104.3.227 Occurrence Handle2225759 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3M%2FjtVCmtQ%3D%3D
P. Marler (1977) The evolution of communication T. A. Sebeok (Eds) How animals communicate Indiana University Press Bloomington 45–70
P. Marler C. S. Evans M. D. Hauser (1992) Animal signals: motivational referential, or both? H. Papoušek U. Jürgens M. Papoušek (Eds) Nonverbal vocal communication Comparative and developmental approaches Cambridge University Press Cambridge 66–86
P. Marler W. J. Hamilton SuffixIII (1966) Mechanisms of animal behavior John Wiley & Sons New York
M. B. Manser (2001) ArticleTitleThe acoustic structure of suricates 9 alarm calls varies with predator type and the level of response urgency Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond-B. 268 2315–2324 Occurrence Handle10.1098/rspb.2001.1773 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mnlt1Onug%3D%3D
J. Maynard-Smith D. Harper (2003) Animal signals Oxford University Press Oxford 166
K. A. Miczek W. Tornatzky J. Vivian (1991) Ethology and Neuropharmacology: Rodent ultrasounds B. Olivier J. Mos J. Slangen (Eds) Animal Models in Psychopharmacology Birkhäuser Verlag Boston 409–427
E. S. Morton (1944) Sound symbolism and its role in non-human vertebrate communication L. Hinton J. Nichols J. J. Ohala (Eds) Sound Symbolism Cambridge Imoversotu Press Cambridge England 348–365
F. Nottebohm (1975) A zoologist’s view of some language phenomena with particular emphasis on vocal learning E. H. Lennenberg E. Lennenberg (Eds) Foundations of language development vol. 1 Academic Press New York 61–103
J. Nyby G. Whitney (1978) ArticleTitleUltrasonic communication of adult myomorph rodents Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2 1–14 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0149-7634(78)90003-9
L. H. Roberts (1972) ArticleTitleCorrelation of respiration and ultrasound production in rodents and bats J. Zool. Lond. 168 439–449 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1469-7998.1972.tb01360.x
L. H. Roberts (1975) ArticleTitleThe rodent ultrasound production mechanism Ultrasonics 13 83–88 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0041-624X(75)90052-9 Occurrence Handle1167711 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE2M7gtlKisw%3D%3D
G. D. Sales (1979) ArticleTitleStrain differences in the ultrasonic behavior of rats (Rattus norvegicus) Am. Zool. 19 513–29
G. D. Sales (1991) ArticleTitleThe effect of 22 kHz calls and artificial 38 kHz signals on activity in rats Behav. Processes 24 83–93 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0376-6357(91)90001-G
K. R. Scherer (1985) Vocal affect signalling: A comparative approach J. S. Rosenblatt C. Beer M.-C. Busnel P. J. B. Slater (Eds) Advances in study of behavior vol. 15 Academic Press Inc Orlando 189–244
ThA. Sebeok (1963) ArticleTitleCommunication in animals and men Language 39 448–466
ThA. Sebeok (1965) ArticleTitleZoosemiotics: Juncture of semiotics and the biological study of behavior Science 147 IssueID3657 492–493
R. M. Seyfarth D. L. Cheney (2003) ArticleTitleSignallers and receivers in animal communication Ann. Rev. Psychol. 54 145–173 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145121
H. N. Shair S. A. Brunelli J. R. Masmela E. Boone M. A. Hofer (2003) ArticleTitleSocial, thermal, and temporal influences on isolation-induced and maternally potentiated ultrasonic vocalizations of rat pups Dev. Psychobiol. 42 206–222 Occurrence Handle10.1002/dev.10087 Occurrence Handle12555284
L. K. Takahashi D. A. Thomas R. J. Barfield (1983) ArticleTitleAnalysis of ultrasonic vocalizations emitted by residents during aggressive encounters among rats (Rattus norvegicus) J. Comp. Psychol. 97 207–212 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.97.3.201 Occurrence Handle6684526 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2c%2Fgtlejtw%3D%3D
A. M. Van der Poel K. A. Miczek (1991) ArticleTitleLong ultrasonic calls in male rats following mating, defeat and aversive stimulation: frequency modulation and bout structure Behavior 119 127–142
Weisz, D. J., Yang, B. Y., Fung, K., and AmiraliA. (2001). The mechanism of ultrasonic vocalization in the rat. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27:#88.19.
N. R. White R. J. Barfield (1989) ArticleTitlePlayback of female rat ultrasonic vocalizations during sexual behavior Physiol. Behav. 45 229–233 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9384(89)90123-6 Occurrence Handle2756009 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1MzjtFKltg%3D%3D
A. J. Wintink S. M. Brudzynski (2001) ArticleTitleThe related roles of dopamine and glutamate in the initiation of 50-kHz ultrasonic calls in adult rats Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 70 317–323 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0091-3057(01)00615-3 Occurrence Handle11701203 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXotFWjur0%3D
N. R. White R. J. Barfield (1990) ArticleTitleEffects of male pre-ejaculatory vocalizations on female receptive behavior in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) J. Comp. Psychol. 104 140–146 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0735-7036.104.2.140 Occurrence Handle2364658 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3czgsFCisQ%3D%3D
N. R. White R. N. Gonzales R. J. Barfield (1993) ArticleTitleDo vocalizations of the male rat elicit calling from the female? Behav. Neurol. Biol. 59 76–78 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0163-1047(93)91201-W Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s7otlWgtg%3D%3D
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brudzynski, S.M. Principles of Rat Communication: Quantitative Parameters of Ultrasonic Calls in Rats. Behav Genet 35, 85–92 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-004-0858-3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-004-0858-3