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Updated: May 8, 2026
Recording Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalizations to Evaluate Social Communication
Published on: June 5, 2016
The Autism ProSAP1/Shank2 mouse model displays quantitative and structural abnormalities in ultrasonic vocalisations
Elodie Ey1, Nicolas Torquet, Anne-Marie Le Sourd
1Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; CNRS URA 2182 'Genes, synapses and cognition', Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France.
This study reveals that ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice exhibit altered ultrasonic vocalizations, offering a valuable model for understanding communication deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These mice show quantitative and qualitative vocal differences compared to wild-type littermates.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Mouse ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are used to model autism spectrum disorder (ASD) communication deficits.
- The precise role, development, structure, and information content of mouse USVs remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize pup and adult USV emission in wild-type and ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice.
- To investigate quantitative and qualitative differences in vocal behavior, focusing on temporal organization and acoustic structure.
Main Methods:
- Quantified USV emission rates and analyzed sequence organization using Markov models.
- Measured USV duration and peak frequency to assess acoustic structure.
- Compared vocal behavior between wild-type and ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice, including sex-based variations.
Main Results:
- Wild-type mice displayed highly organized USV sequences, suggesting a communicative function.
- ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice exhibited abnormalities in USV usage and structure, emitting fewer calls with altered distribution and lower peak frequencies.
- Limited sex-related variations were observed in wild-type mice, but ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice showed significant differences regardless of sex.
Conclusions:
- Mouse USVs possess a complex, organized communicative structure.
- ProSAP1/Shank2(-/-) mice present a relevant genetic model for studying communication impairments associated with ASD.
- This study establishes a framework for characterizing USV abnormalities in mouse models.
