The control of ultrasonic vocalization by auditory feedback in the rat

该项目的目的是阐明听觉反馈输入对大鼠超声发声的影响。大鼠发出可听到的声音和超声波，但后者是与母性、攻击性或性行为等特殊行为有关的。因此，大鼠超声发声是研究实验动物听觉反馈机制的合适模型。我们记录并分析了电刺激大鼠发声中枢时发出的超声波，并试图增加行为条件反射时发出的超声波频率。然而，这样的训练并没有引起发声频率的显著增加。结果提示，利用与超声发射相关的特殊行为，如产妇行为，进行特殊训练是必要的。

The aim of the project was to elucidate the effect of auditory feedback input on the vocalization of the ultrasounds in the rat. The rat emits audible sounds and ultrasounds, but the latter is emitted specifically associated with special behaviors such as maternal, aggressive, or sexual behaviors. Therefore, the ultrasound vocalization by rat is suitable model to examine the auditory feedback mechanism in the experimental animals. We recorded and analyzed the ultrasounds of rats, ones emitted when vocal center was stimulated electrically, and tried to let to increase the frequencies of emission of ultrasounds in behavioral conditioning. However, such the training did not induce significant increase of vocalizing frequencies. The results suggested that it is necessary to take the special training using special behavior which is associated with ultrasound emission such as maternal behavior.