Sex differences in vocal communication of freely interacting adult mice depend upon behavioral context.

ABSTRACT: Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are believed to play a critical role in mouse communication. Although mice produce USVs in multiple contexts, signals emitted in reproductive contexts are typically attributed solely to the male mouse. Only recently has evidence emerged showing that female mice are also vocally active during mixed-sex interactions. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically quantify and compare vocalizations emitted by female and male mice as the animals freely interacted. Using an eight-channel microphone array to determine which mouse emitted specific vocalizations during unrestrained social interaction, we recorded 13 mixed-sex pairs of mice. We report here that females vocalized significantly less often than males during dyadic interactions, with females accounting fo

SUBMITTER: Warren MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6150532 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature