Female behavior is affected by male ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(83)90101-4

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 31, Issue 1, July 1983, Pages 91-96

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(83)90101-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of male-mouse ultrasonic vocalizations on female preference behavior were investigated using Swiss-Webster mice. Intact females spent more time with an intact tethered male than with a devocalized tethered male during 3-min preference tests. Female preference behavior was similar during estrus and diestrus; but, a preference for the vocalizing male was absent after ovariectomy, and returned following replacement treatment with ovarian hormones. Similar effects on female behavior were obtained using synthetic 70 kHz ultrasounds presented behind one of two devocalized tethered males during preference tests. The results indicate that ultrasounds maintain the female close to the vocalizing male and may facilitate copulation.

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^☆: This research was supported in part by a Research Initiation Grant from Michigan State University to A. A. N.

²: S. M. Pomerantz is now at Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, 1223 Capital Court, Madison, WI 53706.

⁴: N. J. Bean is now at Vassar College, Psychology Department, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

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Female behavior is affected by male ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice☆

Abstract

Behav Biol

Behav Biol

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Ultrasonic vocalizations and rat sexual behavior

Am Zool

The reproductive ecology of the house mouse

Q Rev Biol

Social dominance and Darwinian fitness in the laboratory mouse

Am Nat

Communication among hamsters by high-frequency acoustic signals: III. Responses evoked by natural and synthetic ultrasounds

J Comp Physiol Psychol