Female presence and estrous state influence mouse ultrasonic courtship vocalizations.

ABSTRACT: The laboratory mouse is an emerging model for context-dependent vocal signaling and reception. Mouse ultrasonic vocalizations are robustly produced in social contexts. In adults, male vocalization during courtship has become a model of interest for signal-receiver interactions. These vocalizations can be grouped into syllable types that are consistently produced by different subspecies and strains of mice. Vocalizations are unique to individuals, vary across development, and depend on social housing conditions. The behavioral significance of different syllable types, including the contexts in which different vocalizations are made and the responses listeners have to different types of vocalizations, is not well understood. We examined the effect of female presence and estrous state on male

SUBMITTER: Hanson JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3399843 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature