Journal article
Ultrasonic vocalizations by rat pups: The primary importance of ambient temperature and the thermal significance of contact comfort
Developmental psychobiology, Vol.25(4), pp.229-250
05/1992
DOI: 10.1002/dev.420250402
PMID: 1624055
Abstract
We investigated the effects of isolation, huddling, and air temperature on ultrasound production by rat pups. Experiment 1 showed that ultrasound production by 8‐ to 9‐day‐olds was minimal at thermoneutrality and increased in response to small deviations of air temperature on either side of the thermoneutral zone. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that suppression of ultrasound production by contact with littermates is consistent with the thermal consequences of huddling. Experiment 4 showed that, contrary to previous conclusions, ultrasound production is not independent of ambient temperature in pups older than 10 days of age. Taken as a whole, these experiments emphasize (1) the importance of ambient temperature for the elicitation of ultrasound by rat pups of all ages studied, (2) the importance of thermal factors in the suppression of ultrasound by littermate contact, and (3) the manner in which different methods can change interpretations of the behavior and physiology of infant rats. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ultrasonic vocalizations by rat pups: The primary importance of ambient temperature and the thermal significance of contact comfort
- Creators
- Mark S BlumbergInna V EfimovaJeffrey R Alberts
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Developmental psychobiology, Vol.25(4), pp.229-250
- DOI
- 10.1002/dev.420250402
- PMID
- 1624055
- NLM abbreviation
- Dev Psychobiol
- ISSN
- 0012-1630
- eISSN
- 1098-2302
- Publisher
- Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company; Hoboken
- Number of pages
- 22
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/1992
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9984002492102771
Metrics
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