Stress-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Laboratory Rats and Mice: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
• Animal Behavior and Communication

Background:

• Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in rodents serve as indicators of affective states, including psychosocial stress.
• Stress-induced changes in USVs can be influenced by various experimental factors, necessitating a comprehensive review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on psychosocial stress-altered rodent USVs.
• To delineate the effects of age, sex, strain, species, elicitation paradigm, and stressor type on stress-induced USVs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science).
• Included peer-reviewed articles reporting original data on USVs in rats or mice under stress.
• Extracted data on USV acoustic parameters, stress/elicitation paradigms, and rodent demographic variables (species, age, sex).

Main Results:

• 148 articles met inclusion criteria; footshock, cold exposure, and maternal separation were common stressors.
• Stress-altered USVs were reported in 121 studies on rats and 25 on mice.
• USV rates change with age, and females exhibit more calls and lower peak frequency under stress compared to males; strain differences were less consistently reported.

Conclusions:

• The review provides a foundation for understanding the complex modulation of rodent USVs by psychosocial stress.
• Key factors influencing stress-induced USVs include the elicitation paradigm, specific stressor, age, and sex of the animal.