Are 50-khz calls used as play signals in the playful interactions of rats? III. The effects of devocalization on play with unfamiliar partners as juveniles and as adults

Kisko, Theresa M.; Euston, David R.; Pellis, Sergio M.

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2015.01.016

Cited by 49 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(120 reference statements)

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“…When tracked over the course of a play bout, USVs are more likely to occur shortly before playful contact is made and this would be consistent with rats using USVs to communicate playful intention (Himmler et al, 2014). However, two studies looking at play in devocalized rats suggest that caution should be used before concluding that 50 kHz USVs serve as play signals (Kisko et al, 2015a, 2015b). For example, if vocalizations are used to signal playful intent and help maintain the vigor of a play bout, then devocalized rats should be expected to be less playful.…”

Section: The Rat As An Optimal Animal Model To Study the Neurobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

Siviy

2016

Behav

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Play is an important part of normal childhood development and is seen in varied forms among many mammals. While not indispensable to normal development, playful social experiences as juveniles may provide an opportunity to develop flexible behavioral strategies when novel and uncertain situations arise as an adult. To understand the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for play and how the functions of play may relate to these neural substrates, the rat has become the model of choice. Play in the rat is easily quantified, tightly regulated, and can be modulated by genetic factors and postnatal experiences. Brain areas most likely to be involved in the modulation of play include regions within the prefrontal cortex, dorsal and ventral striatum, some regions of the amygdala, and habenula. This paper discusses what we currently know about the neurobiological substrates of play and how this can help illuminate functional questions about the putative benefits of play.

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Section: The Rat As An Optimal Animal Model To Study the Neurobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

Siviy

2016

Behav

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“…These vocalizations may signal positive mood or playful intent (Palagi et al, 2016; Wöhr and Schwarting, 2013). However, the relationship between social play behaviour and these high-frequency vocalizations is not as straightforward as initially assumed (Kisko et al, 2015; Manduca et al, 2014a), so that their exact initiating or facilitating contribution to social play remains to be determined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The neurobiology of social play and its rewarding value in rats

Vanderschuren

Achterberg

Trezza

2016

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

254

202

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In the young of many mammalian species, including humans, a vigorous and highly rewarding social activity is abundantly expressed, known as social play behaviour. Social play is thought to be important for the development of social, cognitive and emotional processes and their neural underpinnings, and it is disrupted in pediatric psychiatric disorders. Here, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of the brain mechanisms of social play behaviour, with a focus on its rewarding properties. Opioid, endocannabinoid, dopamine and noradrenaline systems play a prominent role in the modulation of social play. Of these, dopamine is particularly important for the motivational properties of social play. The nucleus accumbens has been identified as a key site for opioid and dopamine modulation of social play. Endocannabinoid influences on social play rely on the basolateral amygdala, whereas noradrenaline modulates social play through the basolateral amygdala, habenula and prefrontal cortex. In sum, social play behaviour is the result of coordinated activity in a network of corticolimbic structures, and its monoamine, opioid and endocannabinoid innervation.

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“…In fact, electromyographic studies suggest that vocalizations require the active contraction of the larynx muscles during the exhalation [9, 10]. Concordantly, rats with transected laryngeal nerves do not vocalize even though they actively move about [11, 12]. Second, respiration and locomotion can be decoupled during vocalizations as the rat prolongs the expiratory phase to produce a call [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specific 50-kHz vocalizations are tightly linked to particular types of behavior in juvenile rats anticipating play

et al. 2017

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Rat ultrasonic vocalizations have been suggested to be either a byproduct of physical movement or, in the case of 50-kHz calls, a means to communicate positive affect. Yet there are up to 14 distinct types of 50-kHz calls, raising issues for both explanations. To discriminate between these theories and address the purpose for the numerous 50-kHz call types, we studied single juvenile rats that were waiting to play with a partner, a situation associated with a high number of 50-kHz calls. We used a Monte-Carlo shuffling procedure to identify vocalization-behavior correlations that were statistically different from chance. We found that certain call types (“split”, “composite” and “multi-step”) were strongly associated with running and jumping while other call types (those involving “trills”) were more common during slower movements. Further, non-locomotor states such as resting and rearing were strongly predictive of a lack of vocalizations. We also found that the various sub-types of USVs can be clustered into 3–4 categories based on similarities in the way they are used. We did not find a one-to-one relationship between any movements and specific vocalizations, casting doubt on the motion byproduct theory. On the other hand, the use of specific calls during specific behaviors is problematic for the affect communication hypothesis. Based on our results, we suggest that ultrasonic calls may serve to coordinate moment-to-moment social interactions.

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Are 50-khz calls used as play signals in the playful interactions of rats? III. The effects of devocalization on play with unfamiliar partners as juveniles and as adults

Cited by 49 publications

References 70 publications

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

The neurobiology of social play and its rewarding value in rats

Specific 50-kHz vocalizations are tightly linked to particular types of behavior in juvenile rats anticipating play

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