Conspecific presence facilitates 22-kHz ultrasonic calls in male rats exposed to cat odor.

ABSTRACT: Rats (Rattus norvegicus) exhibit defensive behaviors such as hiding, freezing, and fleeing when confronted with predators. They also may emit long-duration, flat frequency (~ 22-kHz), ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to predator detection. These are in contrast to the shorter, higher frequency (~ 50-kHz), frequency modulated USVs often associated with positive affective states. Long duration ~ 22-kHz vocalizations can trigger defensive behaviors in other rats. Here, we studied the impact of a predator-associated stimulus (cat fur) and the context in which it was experienced on these ~ 22-kHz and ~ 50-kHz USVs in laboratory rats, along with how the presence of conspecifics (none, one, or two familiar rats) influenced these vocalizations. Group-housed rats were habituated to a tes

SUBMITTER: Bedoya-Perez MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11880318 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature