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Ultrasound recognition in house mice: Key-Stimulus configuration and recognition mechanism

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Summary

  1. 1.

    We determined the ability of lactating female house mice (Mus musculus, strain NMRI) to recognize natural ultrasonic calls (USC) of their pups or synthesized USC models. Recognition was shown by the mice preferentially responding to these sounds in the presence of an alternative sound signal.

  2. 2.

    Preferred USC models had total durations (flat top + rise and fall times) between 30 and 270 ms. Shorter and longer ones were not preferentially responded to. Response to USC models with major frequency components above 40 kHz was the same as that to natural ultrasonic calls of mouse pups.

  3. 3.

    The key-stimulus configuration for recognition of mouse pup ultrasound in the frequency domain can be characterized as pulses of sound energy in a narrow frequency band in the ultrasonic range with significantly less energy in adjacent frequency bands. The decisive units for call recognition are frequency bandwidths which are almost identical in width with the critical bands of hearing, a measure of frequency resolution in the auditory system. The critical frequency bands for the recognition of USC models have a bandwidth of 22.5 kHz at a center frequency near 50 kHz (the critical band of hearing is 22 kHz wide), and 15 kHz at a center frequency near 40 kHz (the critical band of hearing is 18 kHz wide). We conclude that the discrimination of ultrasonic mouse pup calls from other mouse calls and their recognition is most probably directly related to the critical band analysis in the auditory system.

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Abbreviations

SPL :

sound pressure level

USC :

ultrasonic call

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Ehret, G., Haack, B. Ultrasound recognition in house mice: Key-Stimulus configuration and recognition mechanism. J. Comp. Physiol. 148, 245–251 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619131

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