Male mice song syntax depends on social contexts and influences female preferences.

Chabout, J

Sarkar, A

Dunson, DB

Jarvis, E

Switzerland

2015-04-01T15:07:45Z

2015

In 2005, Holy and Guo advanced the idea that male mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) with some features similar to courtship songs of songbirds. Since then, studies showed that male mice emit USV songs in different contexts (sexual and other) and possess a multisyllabic repertoire. Debate still exists for and against plasticity in their vocalizations. But the use of a multisyllabic repertoire can increase potential flexibility and information, in how elements are organized and recombined, namely syntax. In many bird species, modulating song syntax has ethological relevance for sexual behavior and mate preferences. In this study we exposed adult male mice to different social contexts and developed a new approach of analyzing their USVs based on songbird syntax analysis. We found that male mice modify their syntax, including specific sequences, length of sequence, repertoire composition, and spectral features, according to stimulus and social context. Males emit longer and simpler syllables and sequences when singing to females, but more complex syllables and sequences in response to fresh female urine. Playback experiments show that the females prefer the complex songs over the simpler ones. We propose the complex songs are to lure females in, whereas the directed simpler sequences are used for direct courtship. These results suggest that although mice have a much more limited ability of song modification, they could still be used as animal models for understanding some vocal communication features that songbirds are used for.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25883559

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9544

eng

Frontiers Media SA

Front Behav Neurosci

10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00076

Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs)

playback

social contexts

song syntax

vocal communication

Male mice song syntax depends on social contexts and influences female preferences.

Journal article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25883559

76

Basic Science Departments

Duke

Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

Mathematics

Neurobiology

Pratt School of Engineering

School of Medicine

Statistical Science

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

University Institutes and Centers

Published online

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