title: Mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations by intra-laryngeal planar impinging jets.
abstract: Rodent ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are a vital tool for linking gene mutations to behavior in mouse models of communication disorders, such as autism [1]. However, we currently lack an understanding of how physiological and physical mechanisms combine to generate acoustic features of the vocalizations, and thus cannot meaningfully relate those features to experimental treatments. Here we test and provide evidence against the two leading hypotheses explaining USV production: superficial vocal fold vibrations [2], and a hole-tone whistle [3]. Instead, we propose and provide theoretical and experimental evidence for an alternative and novel vocal production mechanism: a glottal jet impinging onto the laryngeal inner planar wall. Our data provide a framework for future research on the neuromuscular control of mouse vocal production and for interpreting mouse vocal behavior phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahrt
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biology and Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perkel
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portfors
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: coen@biology.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Coen P H
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Elemans
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000502:physiology*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves; D014828:Vocalization, Animal