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Nelson XJ, Taylor AH, Cartmill EA, Lyn H, Robinson LM, Janik V, Allen C. Joyful by nature: approaches to investigate the evolution and function of joy in non-human animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1548-1563. [PMID: 37127535 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The nature and evolution of positive emotion is a major question remaining unanswered in science and philosophy. The study of feelings and emotions in humans and animals is dominated by discussion of affective states that have negative valence. Given the clinical and social significance of negative affect, such as depression, it is unsurprising that these emotions have received more attention from scientists. Compared to negative emotions, such as fear that leads to fleeing or avoidance, positive emotions are less likely to result in specific, identifiable, behaviours being expressed by an animal. This makes it particularly challenging to quantify and study positive affect. However, bursts of intense positive emotion (joy) are more likely to be accompanied by externally visible markers, like vocalisations or movement patterns, which make it more amenable to scientific study and more resilient to concerns about anthropomorphism. We define joy as intense, brief, and event-driven (i.e. a response to something), which permits investigation into how animals react to a variety of situations that would provoke joy in humans. This means that behavioural correlates of joy are measurable, either through newly discovered 'laughter' vocalisations, increases in play behaviour, or reactions to cognitive bias tests that can be used across species. There are a range of potential situations that cause joy in humans that have not been studied in other animals, such as whether animals feel joy on sunny days, when they accomplish a difficult feat, or when they are reunited with a familiar companion after a prolonged absence. Observations of species-specific calls and play behaviour can be combined with biometric markers and reactions to ambiguous stimuli in order to enable comparisons of affect between phylogenetically distant taxonomic groups. Identifying positive affect is also important for animal welfare because knowledge of positive emotional states would allow us to monitor animal well-being better. Additionally, measuring if phylogenetically and ecologically distant animals play more, laugh more, or act more optimistically after certain kinds of experiences will also provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the evolution of joy and other positive emotions, and potentially even into the evolution of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena J Nelson
- Private Bag 4800, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Alex H Taylor
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys, 23, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Erica A Cartmill
- Departments of Anthropology and Psychology, UCLA, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Heidi Lyn
- Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, 75 S. University Blvd., Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
| | - Lauren M Robinson
- Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, Vienna, A-1160, Austria
| | - Vincent Janik
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Colin Allen
- Department of History & Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 1101 Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
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2
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Calhoun CA, Lattouf C, Lewis V, Barrientos H, Donaldson ST. Chronic mild stress induces differential depression-like symptoms and c-Fos and 5HT1A protein levels in high-anxiety female Long Evans rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 438:114202. [PMID: 36343695 PMCID: PMC9990717 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Depression and anxiety disorders overlap in clinical populations, suggesting common mechanisms that may be further investigated in reliable animal models. We used filial 8 female Long-Evans rats bred for high (HAn; n = 19) and low anxiety (LAn)-like behavior (n = 21) to assess forced swim test mobility strategies and chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like symptoms. We measured (1) weight, (2) fur piloerection, (3) sweet food consumption, (4) grooming behavior, and (5) circulating estradiol (E2). One month after CMS terminated and following a terminal forced swim test, brains were processed for immunohistochemistry targeting c-Fos and serotonin 1 A receptor (5-HT1AR) protein in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. HAn female rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior (i.e., lower open to closed arm ratios, increased closed arm entries), more swimming (i.e., mobility), and less floating (i.e., immobility) behavior in the forced swim test. Overall, HAn females weighed less than their LAn counterparts. After chronic mild stress, HAn lines displayed even greater mobility and consumed fewer Froot Loops™. Fur and grooming analyses indicated no significant differences in mean counts across experimental groups. One month after CMS, cycling E2 concentrations (pg/ml) did not differ between HAn and LAn animals. Elevated c-Fos and 5-HT1AR expression were observed in the PVN, where HAn CMS rats expressed the most c-Fos and 5-HT1AR immunoreactivity. In summary, outbred HAn rats show robust anxiety-like behavior, exhibit more mobility in the forced swim test, and are more sensitive to chronic mild stress-induced grooming and decline in palatable food ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey A Calhoun
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Christine Lattouf
- Developmental and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victoria Lewis
- Developmental and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heidi Barrientos
- Developmental and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - S Tiffany Donaldson
- Developmental and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
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3
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Champeil-Potokar G, Kreichati L, Rampin O, Denis I, Darcel N, Bombail V. Rats chirp with their mouth full: During an experimental meal, adult male Wistar rats emitted flat ultrasonic vocalisations upon feeding. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1089631. [PMID: 36815182 PMCID: PMC9939450 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1089631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rats produce ultrasonic vocalisation (USVs) that are classified into different types, based on their average frequency. In pups 40 kHz USVs are produced upon social isolation, and in adults USVs can be associated with affective states and specific behavioural patterns (i.e., appetitive 50 kHz vocalisations of frequency range 30-100 kHz, or aversive 20 kHz vocalisations of frequency range 18-30 kHz). Generally, USVs of frequency around 50 kHz are linked to activation of brain reward pathways, during anticipation or experience of rewarding stimuli. Previous studies have described several subtypes of 50 kHz USVs, according to their acoustic properties. We asked whether USV production might be relevant to feeding behaviour. We recorded USVs from 14-week old adult rats during the satisfaction of a physiological need: refeeding following mild food deprivation (17 h overnight fast). We analysed a 10 min consummatory phase, preceded by a 10 min anticipatory phase, as a control for the experimental meal. Following identification of USV subtypes, we applied frequentist and Bayesian (Monte Carlo shuffling) statistical analyses to investigate the relationship between USV emission and rat behaviour. We found that it was not total USV quantity that varied in response to food consumption, but the subtype of USV produced. Most importantly we found that rats who feed tend to produce flat USVs of a frequency around 40 kHz. Beyond the previous reports of circumstantial association feeding-flat USVs, our observation directly correlate vocalisation and ingestive behaviour. Our study highlights that, in addition to quantification of the production rate, study of USV subtypes might inform us further on rat consummatory behaviour. Since this vocalisation behaviour can have a communicative purpose, those findings also illustrate nutrition studies might benefit from considering the possible social dimension of feeding behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaelle Champeil-Potokar
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France
| | - Léa Kreichati
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France
| | - Olivier Rampin
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Denis
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Darcel
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France
| | - Vincent Bombail
- Physiology of Nutrition and Feeding Behaviour Unit (PNCA, UMR 0914), University of Paris-Saclay-AgroParisTech-National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris, France.,Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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4
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Burke CJ, Pellis SM, Achterberg EJM. Who's laughing? Play, tickling and ultrasonic vocalizations in rats. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210184. [PMID: 36126668 PMCID: PMC9489288 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Social play in rats is a highly rewarding, energetic form of social interaction and important for development of the brain and social skills. The 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) emitted during social play are thought to be an expression of a positive affective state (laughter), which in some situations may also function as communication signals. Heterospecific play, 'tickling' by an experimenter, is thought to simulate conspecific play, and has been used to improve welfare and to study the neurobiology of positive affect. Given that tickling evokes substantial amounts of USV, we investigated whether heterospecific play is simulating conspecific play by comparing USV-behaviour associations in both contexts. If the 50 kHz calls are merely an expression of 'laughter' then the pattern and type of emission in both contexts should be similar. By contrast, as playing with a conspecific involves a two-way exchange of signalling, the additional demands on communication should lead to a different pattern of calling. While calling was prevalent in both types of play, how the different types of 50 kHz calls are used in the two contexts differed markedly. The findings suggest that while conspecific and heterospecific play are positive experiences, tickling is not the equivalent of conspecific play. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cracking the laugh code: laughter through the lens of biology, psychology and neuroscience'.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1 K 3M4
| | - S. M. Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1 K 3M4
| | - E. J. M. Achterberg
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Appetitive 50 kHz calls in a pavlovian conditioned approach task in Cacna1c haploinsufficient rats. Physiol Behav 2022; 250:113795. [PMID: 35351494 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that rats emit high-frequency 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) during sign- and goal-tracking in a common Pavlovian conditioned approach task. Such 50 kHz calls are probably related to positive affect and are associated with meso-limbic dopamine function. In humans, the CACNA1C gene, encoding for the α1C subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2, is implicated in several mental disorders, including mood disorders associated with altered dopamine signaling. In the present study, we investigated sign- and goal-tracking behavior and the emission of 50 kHz USV in Cacna1c haploinsufficent rats in a task where food pellet delivery is signaled by an appearance of an otherwise inoperable lever. Over the course of this Pavlovian training, these rats not only increased their approach to the reward site, but also their rates of pressing the inoperable lever. During subsequent extinction tests, where reward delivery was omitted, extinction patterns differed between reward site (i.e. magazine entries) and lever, since magazine entries quickly declined whereas behavior towards the lever transiently increased. Based on established criteria to define sign- or goal-tracking individuals, no CACNA1C rat met a sign-tracking criterion, since around 42% of rats tested where goal-trackers and the other 58% fell into an intermediate range. Regarding USV, we found that the CACNA1C rats emitted 50 kHz calls with a clear subject-dependent pattern; also, most of them were of a flat subtype and occurred mainly during initial habituation phases without cues or rewards. Compared, to previously published wildtype controls, Cacna1c haploinsufficent rats displayed reduced numbers of appetitive 50 kHz calls. Moreover, similar to wildtype littermate controls, 50 kHz call emission in Cacna1c haploinsufficent rats was intra-individually stable over training days and was negatively associated with goal-tracking. Together, these findings provide evidence in support of 50 kHz calls as trait marker. The finding that Cacna1c haploinsufficent rats show reductions of 50 kHz calls accompanied with more goal-tracking, is consistent with the assumption of altered dopamine signaling in these rats, a finding which supports their applicability in models of mental disorders.
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6
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Bogacki-Rychlik W, Rolf M, Bialy M. Anticipatory 50-kHz Precontact Ultrasonic Vocalizations and Sexual Motivation: Characteristic Pattern of Ultrasound Subtypes in an Individual Analyzed Profile. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:722456. [PMID: 34489656 PMCID: PMC8417802 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.722456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We verified the hypothesis of the existence of forms of individual-specific differences in the emission of anticipatory precontact vocalization (PVs) indicating individualization related to sexual experience and motivation in male rats. Long-Evans males were individually placed in a chamber and 50-kHz ultrasounds were recorded during 5-min periods. In experiment 1, PVs were recorded before the introduction of a female in four consecutive sessions during the acquisition of sexual experience. In experiment 2, PVs were analyzed in three groups of sexually experienced males: with the highest, moderate, and the lowest sexual motivation based on previous copulatory activity. In both experiments, the total number of ultrasounds, as well as 14 different specific subtypes, was measured. The ultrasound profiles for each male were created by analyzing the proportions of specific dominant subtypes of so-called 50-kHz calls. We decided that the dominant ultrasounds were those that represented more than 10% of the total recorded signals in a particular session. The number of PVs was positively correlated with the acquisition of sexual experience and previous copulatory efficiency (measured as the number of sessions with ejaculation). Furthermore, PVs showed domination of the frequency modulated signals (complex and composite) as well as flat and short with upward ramp ultrasounds with some individual differences, regardless of the level of sexual motivation. The results show a characteristic pattern of PVs and confirm the hypothesis that the number of PVs is a parameter reflecting the level of sexual motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktor Bogacki-Rychlik
- Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Rolf
- Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Bialy
- Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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7
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Burke CJ, Markovina M, Pellis SM, Euston DR. Rat 50 kHz Trill Calls Are Tied to the Expectation of Social Interaction. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091142. [PMID: 34573164 PMCID: PMC8468548 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats emit a variety of calls in the 40–80 kHz range (50 kHz calls). While these calls are generally associated with positive affect, it is unclear whether certain calls might be used selectively in certain contexts. To examine this, we looked at ultrasonic calls in 30–40 day old male rats during the expectation of either play or food, both of which are reinforcing. Behavior and vocalizations were recorded while rats were in a test chamber awaiting the arrival of a play partner or food over seven days of testing. Control groups were included for the non-specific effects of food deprivation and social isolation. Play reward led to an increase in 50 kHz vocalizations, generally, with specific increases in trill and “trill with jump” calls not seen in other groups. Expectation of food reward did not lead to a significant increase in vocalizations of any type, perhaps due to the young age of our study group. Further, rats that were food deprived for the food expectation study showed markedly lower calls overall and had a different profile of call types compared to rats that were socially isolated. Taken together, the results suggest that trill-associated calls may be used selectively when rats are socially isolated and/or expecting a social encounter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace J. Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (C.J.B.); (S.M.P.)
| | - Mariya Markovina
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Sergio M. Pellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (C.J.B.); (S.M.P.)
| | - David R. Euston
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (C.J.B.); (S.M.P.)
- Correspondence:
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8
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Armas M, Marín G, Uriarte N, Agrati D. Increase in sexual motivation throughout adolescence in the cycling female rat. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22162. [PMID: 34278572 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Sexual behavior in the female rat is a highly motivated behavior first displayed during adolescence, a developmental period when neural circuits underlying motivation are not mature. This study characterizes the natural development of sexual motivation and behavior of female rats. We compared the incentive value of the male for mid-adolescent (PNDs:39-43), late adolescent (PNDs:49-53), and adult (PNDs:90-115) cycling females, using a male-female preference task and an ultrasonic vocalization emission test following exposure to a male or female stimulus animal. Furthermore, display of sexual and social behaviors during an interaction with a male or a nonreceptive female was assessed. Mid-adolescent rats exhibited a reduced preference for the male than adults and performed less attempts to access the male. Unlike late adolescent and adult females, mid-adolescent rats did not increase their ultrasonic vocalization emission after interacting with a male relative to a female. Although most of the sexual behavior did not differ between groups, mid-adolescent females showed lower lordosis magnitude and higher levels of play and social investigation during a sexual interaction, giving rise to a unique behavioral profile. Present results indicate that the sexual behavior repertoire is fully displayed by mid-adolescence, but sexual motivation is low and increases into late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Armas
- Sección Fisiología y Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriella Marín
- Sección Fisiología y Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Uriarte
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Daniella Agrati
- Sección Fisiología y Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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9
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Seidisarouei M, van Gurp S, Pranic NM, Calabus IN, van Wingerden M, Kalenscher T. Distinct Profiles of 50 kHz Vocalizations Differentiate Between Social Versus Non-social Reward Approach and Consumption. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:693698. [PMID: 34234654 PMCID: PMC8255485 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.693698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Social animals tend to possess an elaborate vocal communication repertoire, and rats are no exception. Rats utilize ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) to communicate information about a wide range of socially relevant cues, as well as information regarding the valence of the behavior and/or surrounding environment. Both quantitative and qualitative acoustic properties of these USVs are thought to communicate context-specific information to conspecifics. Rat USVs have been broadly categorized into 22 and 50 kHz call categories, which can be further classified into subtypes based on their sonographic features. Recent research indicates that the 50 kHz calls and their various subtype profiles may be related to the processing of social and non-social rewards. However, only a handful of studies have investigated USV elicitation in the context of both social and non-social rewards. Here, we employ a novel behavioral paradigm, the social-sucrose preference test, that allowed us to measure rats’ vocal responses to both non-social (i.e., 2, 5, and 10% sucrose) and social reward (interact with a Juvenile rat), presented concurrently. We analyzed adult male Long-Evans rats’ vocal responses toward social and non-social rewards, with a specific focus on 50 kHz calls and their 14 subtypes. We demonstrate that rats’ preference and their vocal responses toward a social reward were both influenced by the concentration of the non-social reward in the maze. In other words, rats showed a trade-off between time spent with non-social or social stimuli along with increasing concentrations of sucrose, and also, we found a clear difference in the emission of flat and frequency-modulated calls in the social and non-social reward zones. Furthermore, we report that the proportion of individual subtypes of 50 kHz calls, as well as the total USV counts, showed variation across different types of rewards as well. Our findings provide a thorough overview of rat vocal responses toward non-social and social rewards and are a clear depiction of the variability in the rat vocalization repertoire, establishing the role of call subtypes as key players driving context-specific vocal responses of rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Seidisarouei
- Social Rodent Lab, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sander van Gurp
- Social Rodent Lab, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Irina Noguer Calabus
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marijn van Wingerden
- Social Rodent Lab, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Tobias Kalenscher
- Comparative Psychology, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Karwicka W, Wiatrowska M, Kondrakiewicz K, Knapska E, Kursa MB, Hamed A. Relaying Aversive Ultrasonic Alarm Calls Depends on Previous Experience. Empathy, Social Buffering, or Panic? Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060759. [PMID: 34201037 PMCID: PMC8227955 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations are among the oldest evolutionarily forms of animal communication. In order to study the communication patterns in an aversive social situation, we used a behavioral model in which one animal, the observer, is witnessing as his cagemate, the demonstrator, is experiencing a series of mild electrical foot shocks. We studied the effect of the foot shock experience on the observer and the influence of a warning sound (emitted shortly before the shock) on USV communication. These experiments revealed that such a warning seems to increase the arousal level, which differentiates the responses depending on previous experience. This can be identified by the emission of characteristic, short 22 kHz calls of a duration below 100 ms. Two rats emitted calls that overlapped in time. Analysis of these overlaps revealed that in ‘warned’ pairs with a naive observer, 22 kHz calls were mixed with 50 kHz calls. This fact, combined with a high fraction of very high-pitched 50 kHz calls (over 75 kHz), suggests the presence of the phenomenon of social buffering. Pure 22 kHz overlaps were mostly found in ‘warned’ pairs with an experienced observer, suggesting a possible fear contagion with distress sharing. The results show the importance of dividing 22 kHz calls into long and short categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Karwicka
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Marta Wiatrowska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Kacper Kondrakiewicz
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY—Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (K.K.); (E.K.)
| | - Miron Bartosz Kursa
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling, University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Adam Hamed
- Laboratory of Spatial Memory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence:
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11
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Fendt M, Gonzalez-Guerrero CP, Kahl E. Observational Fear Learning in Rats: Role of Trait Anxiety and Ultrasonic Vocalization. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040423. [PMID: 33810488 PMCID: PMC8066558 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rats can acquire fear by observing conspecifics that express fear in the presence of conditioned fear stimuli. This process is called observational fear learning and is based on the social transmission of the demonstrator rat’s emotion and the induction of an empathy-like or anxiety state in the observer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of trait anxiety and ultrasonic vocalization in observational fear learning. Two experiments with male Wistar rats were performed. In the first experiment, trait anxiety was assessed in a light–dark box test before the rats were submitted to the observational fear learning procedure. In the second experiment, ultrasonic vocalization was recorded throughout the whole observational fear learning procedure, and 22 kHz and 50 kHz calls were analyzed. The results of our study show that trait anxiety differently affects direct fear learning and observational fear learning. Direct fear learning was more pronounced with higher trait anxiety, while observational fear learning was the best with a medium-level of trait anxiety. There were no indications in the present study that ultrasonic vocalization, especially emission of 22 kHz calls, but also 50 kHz calls, are critical for observational fear learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (C.P.G.-G.); (E.K.)
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Claudia Paulina Gonzalez-Guerrero
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (C.P.G.-G.); (E.K.)
- Integrative Neuroscience Program, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Evelyn Kahl
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (C.P.G.-G.); (E.K.)
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The Effect of Maternal Immune Activation on Social Play-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Rats. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11030344. [PMID: 33803154 PMCID: PMC8001568 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal maternal infection is associated with an increased risk of various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Maternal immune activation (MIA) can be experimentally induced by prenatal administration of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), a synthetic viral-like double-stranded RNA. Although this MIA model is adopted in many studies, social and communicative deficits, included in the first diagnostic criterion of ASD, are poorly described in the offspring of poly(I:C)-exposed dams. This study aimed to characterize the impact of prenatal poly(I:C) exposure on socio-communicative behaviors in adolescent rats. For this purpose, social play behavior was assessed in both males and females. We also analyzed quantitative and structural changes in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats during the play test. Deficits of social play behaviors were evident only in male rats. Males also emitted a significantly decreased number of USVs during social encounters. Prenatal poly(I:C) exposure also affected acoustic call parameters, as reflected by the increased peak frequencies. Additionally, repetitive behaviors were demonstrated in autistic-like animals regardless of sex. This study demonstrates that prenatal poly(I:C) exposure impairs socio-communicative functioning in adolescent rats. USVs may be a useful tool for identifying early autistic-like abnormalities.
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Shimoju R, Shibata H. Simultaneous antagonism of dopamine D1/D2/D3 receptor in the NAc reduces 50-kHz ultrasonic calls in response to rhythmic tactile stroking. Behav Brain Res 2021; 405:113211. [PMID: 33652069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Tactile stimulation such as rhythmic stroking elicits 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in rats that are thought to reflect positive affective states. Dopaminergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for tactile reward-induced 50-kHz USVs; however, it is still unknown whether the accumbal dopaminergic system differentially modulates 50-kHz USV call subtypes induced by rhythmic stroking. We therefore examined both total and categorized 50-kHz USV rate, peak frequency, and duration under dopamine (DA) receptor antagonism in the NAc shell. Bilateral injection of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (500 ng/side) plus the D2/D3 receptor antagonist raclopride (25 μg/side) significantly reduced the number of predominantly flat calls with harmonics during stimulation and the number of frequency-modulated (FM) calls after stimulation. In contrast, there were no substantial changes in total and categorized 50-kHz USVs mean peak frequencies and call durations. Therefore, emission of different subtypes of 50-kHz USVs may be differently regulated by dopaminergic transmission. The 50-kHz harmonics and FM USVs induced by rhythmic stroking may be useful behavioral markers for tactile reward in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Shimoju
- Center for Basic Medical Research, International University of Health and Welfare, Otawara 324-8501, Japan.
| | - Hideshi Shibata
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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14
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Gzielo K, Potasiewicz A, Hołuj M, Litwa E, Popik P, Nikiforuk A. Valproic acid exposure impairs ultrasonic communication in infant, adolescent and adult rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 41:52-62. [PMID: 32978035 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Persistent deficits of social communication are a hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Communication disabilities can be experimentally modeled using rodents' ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Although prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most widely used animal models of ASD, little is known about communication impairments in this model. We performed a longitudinal study to characterize VPA-induced socio-communicative deficits in male and female rats. USVs were recorded in neonatal rats during maternal separation, in adolescent rats during social play, and in adult rats during social interactions. VPA male and female pups emitted a reduced number of USVs. Their calls were shorter and of an elevated peak frequency. Although social play deficits in adolescent rats were restricted to males only, both males and females demonstrated quantitative and qualitative changes in USVs. Altered vocalization also accompanied deficient social interactions in adult VPA males. In contrast to the adolescents, however, these differences were limited to a reduced number of USVs, but not to the call's structure. Present data suggest that ultrasonic vocalization measurement is a useful tool in detecting lifelong communicative disability in a VPA exposure-induced ASD model. We postulate that USV assessment in female rats may be a more sensitive indicator of juvenile autistic-like disturbances than other behavioral measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gzielo
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Potasiewicz
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Hołuj
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Litwa
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Popik
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nikiforuk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
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15
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Towards a unified theory of emotional contagion in rodents—A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 132:1229-1248. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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16
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Mulvihill KG, Brudzynski SM. Association of medial corticostriatal regions with amphetamine-induced emission of 50 kHz vocalizations as studied by Zif-268 expression in the rat brain. Brain Res 2020; 1726:146505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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17
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Serotonin transporter deficiency alters socioemotional ultrasonic communication in rats. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20283. [PMID: 31889084 PMCID: PMC6937290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56629-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been widely established that serotonin plays important role in the regulation of emotional and social behaviour. Rodents with a genetic deletion of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) are used as a model to study lifelong consequences of increased extracellular 5‐HT levels due to its impaired reuptake. SERT knock-out (SERT-KO) mice and rats consistently showed anxiety-like symptoms and social deficits. Nevertheless, the impact of SERT deletion on socioemotional ultrasonic communication has not been addressed. Here we investigated the impact of lifelong serotonin abundance on ultrasonic vocalisation accompanying social interactions and open field exploration in rats. SERT-KO rats displayed reduced overall duration of social contacts, but increased time spent on following the conspecific. The altered pattern of social behaviour in SERT-KO rats was accompanied by the structural changes in ultrasonic vocalisations, as they differed from their controls in distribution of call categories. Moreover, SERT deletion resulted in anxiety-like behaviours assessed in the open field test. Their anxious phenotype resulted in a lower tendency to emit appetitive 50-kHz calls during novelty exploration. The present study demonstrates that genetic deletion of SERT not only leads to the deficits in social interaction and increased anxiety but also affects ultrasonic communication.
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Kõiv K, Vares M, Kroon C, Metelitsa M, Tiitsaar K, Laugus K, Jaako K, Harro J. Effect of chronic variable stress on sensitization to amphetamine in high and low sucrose-consuming rats. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:1512-1523. [PMID: 31208275 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119856000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual vulnerability to stress manifests in the interaction of innate properties and environment. There is a growing interest in the individual variability in vulnerability to stress and how it contributes to the development of psychiatric disorders. Intake of palatable substances is often measured in animal models. We have previously demonstrated that the consumption of sucrose solution is a stable trait in rats. AIMS The present study aimed to compare the sensitivity of rats with high vs low liquid sucrose consumption to chronic variable stress and the stress effect on behavioural sensitization to amphetamine. METHODS Male Wistar rats were subjected to a chronic stress regimen and subsequent repeated treatment with amphetamine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Fifty-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, locomotor activity and stereotypies were measured. RESULTS In no-stress baseline conditions, the behavioural response to acute amphetamine was similar in rats with high vs low sucrose consumption. Prior chronic stress potentiated the effect of amphetamine only in rats with high sucrose consumption. Behavioural sensitization to repeated administration of amphetamine was observed in non-stressed rats with lower sucrose preference, but not in the respective stressed group that had increased monoamine turnover in the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, in rats with high sucrose preference the amphetamine sensitization effect was prevalent in stressed rats, but not in non-stressed animals. INTERPRETATION Chronic stress can change the psychostimulant effect but this depends on the inherent reward sensitivity of the animal. Trait-wise, sucrose intake reflects vulnerability to chronic stress and may interact with the development of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadri Kõiv
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Marten Vares
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Cristina Kroon
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mait Metelitsa
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Tiitsaar
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karita Laugus
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Külli Jaako
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Harro
- Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Robakiewicz I, Polak M, Rawska M, Alberski D, Polowy R, Wytrychiewicz K, Syperek M, Matysiak J, Filipkowski RK. Stimulus-seeking in rats is accompanied by increased c-Fos expression in hippocampal CA1 as well as short 22 kHz and flat 50 kHz calls. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2019. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2019-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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20
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Mulvihill KG, Brudzynski SM. Effect of microinjections of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens shell on emission of 50 kHz USV: Comparison with effects of d-amphetamine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 176:23-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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