Stimulus control of maternal responsiveness to Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) pup ultrasonic vocalizations.
Mother rats (Rattus norvegicus; 6 to 8 days postpartum) approach and maintain proximal orientation to a pup that is emitting ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) far more than do virgin females (W. J. Farrell & J. R. Alberts, 2002). We used a playback regimen to examine the roles of acoustic and nonacoustic cues in regulating maternal proximal orientation toward vocalizing pups. When presented with recorded USVs, mothers of 6- to 8-day-old pups and nulliparous virgin females exhibited equivalent levels of proximal orientation toward the playback speaker. Mothers did show enhanced proximal orientation toward recorded USVs, however, if a silent pup was positioned below the speaker. Pup odors appear to be crucial for the maternal response to vocalizing pups, as peripherally induced anosmia attenuated maternal proximal orientation toward a vocalizing pup. Furthermore, spatial contiguity between olfactory and auditory stimuli was required for a maximal maternal response.
Farrell
William J
WJ
Department of Psychology, Indiana University Bloomington, 47405-7007, USA.
Alberts
Jeffrey R
JR
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders; D051381:Rats; D012919:Social Behavior; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*