Appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats and their biopsychological analysis in sender and recipient

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rainer K.W. Schwarting
• Subject Area: Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 326649283

Rodents, like rats and mice, which serve most often as subjects in animal research, vocalize using so-called ultrasonic vocalizations. These vocalizations may indicate their emotional and motivational status and induce signal-specific changes in brain and behavior of their conspecific recipients. In this project, the appetitive effect of rat 50-kHz calls will be investigated, which is functionally related to the neurotransmitter dopamine. By combining specific behavioral tests (especially playback of 50-kHz calls) and immunohistochemical, electrophysiological, and psychopharmacological techniques, critical mechanisms will be investigated, which may underlie the appetitive quality of these calls acutely and the habituation to them after repeated exposure. Here, the nucleus accumbens will receive specific attention, since this structure plays an important role in these calls and in the neurobiology of motivated behavior. The expected results will be important in terms of basic research but also for the application of rat ultrasonic vocalizations in models of human psychiatric diseases.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Marco R. Celio