Rat ultrasonic vocalizations: significance and mechanisms

大鼠超声发声：意义和机制

• 批准号: 155055-2013
• 负责人: Clarke, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=569410
• 关键词: Rat; ultrasonic; vocalizations; significance; mechanisms

Rats appear largely silent to us, but they make many sounds beyond the human hearing range. These are termed ultrasonic vocalizations and are probably used for communication. By using specialized equipment, it is possible to eavesdrop on these inaudible calls. In this way, we have been able to discern more than a dozen types of vocalizations. Different kinds of vocalization are prevalent in different situations, suggesting that they may reflect different emotional states. For example, some evidence suggests that certain kinds of vocalization might indicate when a rat is experiencing positive emotion. The overall goal of this research is to better understand what these vocalizations signify and what happens in the brain when an animal vocalizes. To tackle the first question, we will start by exposing rats to different kinds of vocalizations, to see how this affects their behaviour. We will also test whether certain kinds of ultrasonic calls are made when rats are given drugs or other stimuli that are known to be rewarding. Rats often vocalize when they are expecting different kinds of reward, and we will determine whether there are corresponding types of call that reflect anticipation. Finally, in order to explore the brain mechanisms that underpin ultrasonic calling, we will record the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which has been heavily implicated in reward processes in the brain. This research is at a fundamental stage, but in the longer term it could lead to several practical benefits. For example, if ultrasonic vocalizations do indeed reveal different emotional states, they could provide a useful and novel approach for studies linking brain activity to emotions such as pleasure and disappointment. It may also be possible to use specific types of ultrasonic vocalizations in order to screen for novel drug therapies for depression, chronic pain, and anxiety. Lastly, this basic research may one day lead to more effective methods for controlling rodent populations that ravage food supplies.

对我们来说，老鼠基本上是沉默的，但它们发出的许多声音超出了人类的听觉范围。这些被称为超声波发声，可能用于通信。通过使用专用设备，可以窃听这些听不见的呼叫。通过这种方式，我们已经能够辨别十几种发声类型。不同的发声方式在不同的情况下普遍存在，这表明它们可能反映了不同的情绪状态。例如，一些证据表明，某些类型的发声可能表明老鼠正在经历积极的情绪。 这项研究的总体目标是更好地了解这些发声的含义以及动物发声时大脑中发生的情况。为了解决第一个问题，我们首先让老鼠接触不同类型的发声，看看这如何影响它们的行为。我们还将测试当老鼠接受药物或其他已知有益的刺激时是否会发出某些类型的超声波叫声。当老鼠期待不同种类的奖励时，它们经常会发出声音，我们将确定是否有相应类型的叫声反映了预期。最后，为了探索支持超声波呼叫的大脑机制，我们将记录一种称为多巴胺的神经递质的释放，它与大脑的奖励过程密切相关。 这项研究还处于基础阶段，但从长远来看，它可能会带来一些实际好处。例如，如果超声波发声确实揭示了不同的情绪状态，那么它们可以为将大脑活动与快乐和失望等情绪联系起来的研究提供一种有用且新颖的方法。还可以使用特定类型的超声波发声来筛选治疗抑郁症、慢性疼痛和焦虑的新型药物疗法。最后，这项基础研究有一天可能会带来更有效的方法来控制破坏粮食供应的啮齿动物种群。