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Garduño BM, Hanni P, Hays C, Cogram P, Insel N, Xu X. How the forebrain transitions to adulthood: developmental plasticity markers in a long-lived rodent reveal region diversity and the uniqueness of adolescence. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1365737. [PMID: 38456144 PMCID: PMC10917993 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1365737] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Maturation of the forebrain involves transitions from higher to lower levels of synaptic plasticity. The timecourse of these changes likely differs between regions, with the stabilization of some networks scaffolding the development of others. To gain better insight into neuroplasticity changes associated with maturation to adulthood, we examined the distribution of two molecular markers for developmental plasticity. We conducted the examination on male and female degus (Octodon degus), a rodent species with a relatively long developmental timecourse that offers a promising model for studying both development and age-related neuropathology. Immunofluorescent staining was used to measure perineuronal nets (PNNs), an extracellular matrix structure that emerges during the closure of critical plasticity periods, as well as microglia, resident immune cells that play a crucial role in synapse remodeling during development. PNNs (putatively restricting plasticity) were found to be higher in non-juvenile (>3 month) degus, while levels of microglia (putatively mediating plasticity) decreased across ages more gradually, and with varying timecourses between regions. Degus also showed notable variation in PNN levels between cortical layers and hippocampal subdivisions that have not been previously reported in other species. These results offer a glimpse into neuroplasticity changes occurring during degu maturation and highlight adolescence as a unique phase of neuroplasticity, in which PNNs have been established but microglia remain relatively high.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Maximiliano Garduño
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Hanni
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Chelsea Hays
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Patricia Cogram
- Department of Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nathan Insel
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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2
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Ukyo R, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C, Nagura-Kato GA, Ieiri S, Tsuzuki Y, Sakamoto SH. Long-term behavioral effects of social separation during early life in a social mammal, Octodon degus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9518. [PMID: 37308511 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36745-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Social separation is thought to induce a strong stress response in social juvenile mammals, but little is known about how this response might vary throughout the development. The present study examines the long-term effects of early-life stress (ELS) induced by social separation on individual behaviors later in life using the social and precocious species Octodon degus. Four experimental groups were established a positive control group of mothers and siblings from six litters comprised the socially housed (SH) group, while pups from seven litters were randomly assigned to three treatments: pups experiencing no separation (NS) treatment while their siblings did; repeated bouts of consecutive separation (CS); intermittent separation (IS). We analyzed the effects of separation treatment on the frequency and duration of freezing, rearing and grooming behaviors. ELS was correlated with higher hyperactivity, and hyperactivity increased with more frequent separation. However, the behavioral trend of the NS group changed to hyperactive in long-term observation. The findings suggest that the NS group was indirectly affected by ELS. In addition, suggesting ELS acts to converge an individual's behavioral tendencies in a certain direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Ukyo
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Agriculture and Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Akio Shinohara
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Chihiro Koshimoto
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Goro A Nagura-Kato
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Seiji Ieiri
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tsuzuki
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Shinsuke H Sakamoto
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan.
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
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Volodin IA, Yurlova DD, Ilchenko OG, Vasilieva NA, Volodina EV. Non-individualistic ultrasonic and audible isolation calls throughout ontogeny in a rodent, Eolagurus luteus. Behav Processes 2021; 193:104540. [PMID: 34774667 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104540] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Acoustic individuality is present in diverse taxa of mammals and birds, becoming especially prominent in those age groups for which discriminating conspecifics by voice is critically important. This study compares, for the first time, the ontogenetic changes of acoustic individuality of ultrasonic and audible calls (USVs and AUDs) across 12 age-classes (from neonates to adults) in captive yellow steppe lemmings Eolagurus luteus. We found that, in this rodent species, the isolation-induced USVs and AUDs are not individually distinct at any age. We discuss that this result is unusual, because discriminating individuals by individualistic vocal traits may be important for such a social species as yellow steppe lemming. We also discuss the potential role of acoustic individuality in studies including rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya A Volodin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia; Department of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia.
| | - Daria D Yurlova
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
| | - Olga G Ilchenko
- Small Mammals Department, Moscow Zoo, B. Gruzinskaya, 1, Moscow 123242, Russia.
| | - Nina A Vasilieva
- Department of Population Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia.
| | - Elena V Volodina
- Department of Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia.
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Watanabe S, Scheich H, Braun K, Shinozuka K. Visual snake aversion in Octodon degus and C57BL/6 mice. Anim Cogn 2021; 25:33-41. [PMID: 34156548 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01527-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Phobia against spiders or snakes is common in humans, and similar phobia-like behaviors have been observed in non-human animals. Visual images of snakes elicit phobia in humans, but sensory modalities that cause snake aversion in non-human animals are not well examined. In this study, we examined visually induced snake aversion in two rodent species. Using a three-compartment experimental chamber, reactions to images of snakes were compared between the diurnal precocious rodent Octodon degus and nocturnal laboratory mice. The snakes whose images were presented do not live in the original habitats of degus or mice. Snake aversion was assessed by presenting snake vs. no-image, snake vs. flower, snake vs. degu, and snake vs. mouse images. The time spent in a compartment with the snake image and with the non-snake images were measured. Degus avoided images of snakes in every tests. In contrast, mice did not display snake aversion. Degus are diurnal animals, i.e., visual information is important for their survival. Since mice are nocturnal, visual information is less important for survival. Such behavioral differences in the two species may explain the difference in visually induced aversion to snakes. A principal component analysis of the stimulus images suggests that elementary cues, such as color, do not explain the differences in the species' aversion to snakes. Finally, snake aversion in degus suggests that aversion is innate, since the animals were born and raised in a laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henning Scheich
- Professor Emeritus, Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral and Brain Science (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Braun
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Otto Von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral and Brain Science (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
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Multiple dimensions of social motivation in adult female degus. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250219. [PMID: 33882104 PMCID: PMC8059823 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals become more motivated to interact after a period of isolation. This phenomenon may involve general drives, e.g. for social touch or companionship, as well as drives that are specific to particular peers, and which ultimately serve to reestablish relationships between the individuals. Female degus are known to be affiliative with multiple other individuals, including unrelated and unfamiliar conspecifics, offering an opportunity to study social motivation independent from exclusive pair-bonds or overt, same-sex competition. We attempted to disentangle factors driving peer interaction by examining reunion behavior across several social isolation and separation manipulations. High levels of interaction were observed between adult females who had been separated even without isolation, revealing a drive to re-establish relationships with specific peers. The content of separation-only reunions differed from isolation, with the latter involving more early-session interaction, higher levels of allogrooming before rear-sniffing, and a higher ratio of chitter vocalizations. To assess whether post-isolation behavior was related to stress, we examined reunions following a non-social (footshock) stressor. Like isolation, footshock increased early-session interactions, but did not increase allogrooming before rear-sniffing or chittering, as compared with controls. To test whether separation-only reunion behavior shared qualities with relationship formation, we also examined reunions of new (stranger) dyads. Strangers exhibited higher levels of interaction than cagemates, with particularly high levels of late-session rear-sniffing. Like separation-only reunions, strangers showed more non-chitter vocalizations and lower levels of allogrooming before rear-sniffing. Across experiments, an exploratory clustering method was used to identify vocalizations that differed between conditions. This yielded promising leads for future investigation, including a chaff-type syllable that may have been more common during relationship renewal. Overall, results are consistent with the hypothesis that female degu reunions are supported by both general and peer-stimulus specific drives, expressed through the structure of physical and vocal interactions over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha L. Winkler
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture
| | - Gregory A. Bryant
- UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture
- Department of Communication, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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7
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Yagishita-Kyo N, Ikai Y, Uekita T, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C, Yoshikawa K, Maruyama K, Yagishita S. Testosterone interrupts binding of Neurexin and Neuroligin that are expressed in a highly socialized rodent, Octodon degus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 551:54-62. [PMID: 33721831 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Octodon degus is said to be one of the most human-like rodents because of its improved cognitive function. Focusing on its high sociality, we cloned and characterized some sociality-related genes of degus, in order to establish degus as a highly socialized animal model in molecular biology. We cloned degus Neurexin and Neuroligin as sociality-related genes, which are genetically related to autism spectrum disorder in human. According to our results, amino acid sequences of Neurexin and Neuroligin expressed in degus brain, are highly conserved to that of human sequences. Most notably, degus Neuroligin4 is highly similar to human Neuroligin4X, which is one of the most important autism-related genes, whereas mouse Neuroligin4 is known to be poorly similar to human Neuroligin4X. Furthermore, our work also indicated that testosterone directly binds to degus Neurexin and intercepts intercellular Neurexin-Neuroligin binding. Moreover, it is of high interest that testosterone is another key molecule of the higher incidence of autism in male. These results indicated that degus has the potential for animal model of sociality, and furthermore may promote understanding toward the pathogenic mechanism of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Yagishita-Kyo
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, 38 Moro-hongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.
| | - Yuki Ikai
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Tomoko Uekita
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Yamada-cho, Oyake, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, 607-8175, Japan
| | - Akio Shinohara
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Chihiro Koshimoto
- Division of Bio-Resources, Department of Biotechnology, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-shi, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yoshikawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, 38 Moro-hongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan
| | - Kei Maruyama
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, 38 Moro-hongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan
| | - Sosuke Yagishita
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, 38 Moro-hongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan
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8
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Influence of Pre-Weaning Social Isolation on Post-Weaning Emotion Tendency and Mother-Infant Interactions in Infant Octodon Degus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16101824. [PMID: 31126012 PMCID: PMC6572018 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Our previous research using Octodon degus (degus) revealed that preweaning social isolation negatively affected object exploratory behavior. However, it remains unknown how social isolation affects animal psychology and other behaviors. The present study examined the effects of neonatal social isolation on degu emotion and mother–infant interactions before and after weaning. Because degus have a complex social repertoire, we predicted that they would be sensitive to social isolation and show similarities with humans in their social interaction. Pups in the isolation group were separated from their family seven times for 30 min a day from 8 to 15 days post-birth. Pups in the nonisolation group were reared with their family. At 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age, pups underwent a zero-maze test to measure anxiety and a mother–infant interaction test to assess mother–infant attachment. Isolated pups showed more activity in the zero-maze test than nonisolated pups at 3 weeks of age. We found no significant effects of social isolation on mother–infant interactions. These results suggest that while neonatal social isolation might affect emotion during weaning, it does not influence mother–infant relationships.
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Gilley LM, Diggins CA, Pearson SM, Best TL. Vocal repertoire of captive northern and southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus and G. volans). J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L Michelle Gilley
- Mars Hill University, Department of Natural Sciences, Mars Hill, NC USA
| | - Corinne A Diggins
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 100 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Scott M Pearson
- Mars Hill University, Department of Natural Sciences, Mars Hill, NC USA
| | - Troy L Best
- Auburn University, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, AL, USA
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Lima SGC, Sousa-Lima RS, Tokumaru RS, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Nogueira SSC. Vocal complexity and sociality in spotted paca (Cuniculus paca). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190961. [PMID: 29364898 PMCID: PMC5783385 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of sociality is related to many ecological factors that act on animals as selective forces, thus driving the formation of groups. Group size will depend on the payoffs of group living. The Social Complexity Hypothesis for Communication (SCHC) predicts that increases in group size will be related to increases in the complexity of the communication among individuals. This hypothesis, which was confirmed in some mammal societies, may be useful to trace sociality in the spotted paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical caviomorph rodent reported as solitary. There are, however, sightings of groups in the wild, and farmers easily form groups of spotted paca in captivity. Thus, we aimed to describe the acoustic repertoire of captive spotted paca to test the SCHC and to obtain insights about the sociability of this species. Moreover, we aimed to verify the relationship between group size and acoustic repertoire size of caviomorph rodents, to better understand the evolution of sociality in this taxon. We predicted that spotted paca should display a complex acoustic repertoire, given their social behavior in captivity and group sightings in the wild. We also predicted that in caviomorph species the group size would increase with acoustic repertoire, supporting the SCHC. We performed a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based on acoustic parameters of the vocalizations recorded. In addition, we applied an independent contrasts approach to investigate sociality in spotted paca following the social complexity hypothesis, independent of phylogeny. Our analysis showed that the spotted paca's acoustic repertoire contains seven vocal types and one mechanical signal. The broad acoustic repertoire of the spotted paca might have evolved given the species' ability to live in groups. The relationship between group size and the size of the acoustic repertoires of caviomorph species was confirmed, providing additional support for the SCHC in yet another group of diverse mammals-caviomorph rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella G. C. Lima
- Laboratório de Bioacústica, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento / Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Renata S. Sousa-Lima
- Laboratório de Bioacústica, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento / Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Rosana S. Tokumaru
- Departamento de Psicologia Social e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Sérgio L. G. Nogueira-Filho
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Selene S. C. Nogueira
- Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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Lidhar NK, Insel N, Dong JY, Takehara-Nishiuchi K. Observational fear learning in degus is correlated with temporal vocalization patterns. Behav Brain Res 2017. [PMID: 28627387 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Some animals learn to fear a situation after observing another individual come to harm, and this learning is influenced by the animals' social relationship and history. An important but sometimes overlooked factor in studies of observational fear learning is that social context not only affects observers, but may also influence the behavior and communications expressed by those being observed. Here we sought to investigate whether observational fear learning in the degu (Octodon degus) is affected by social familiarity, and the degree to which vocal expressions of alarm or distress contribute. 'Demonstrator' degus underwent contextual fear conditioning in the presence of a cagemate or stranger observer. Among the 15 male pairs, observers of familiar demonstrators exhibited higher freezing rates than observers of strangers when returned to the conditioning environment one day later. Observer freezing during testing was, however, also related to the proportion of short- versus long- inter-call-intervals (ICIs) in vocalizations recorded during prior conditioning. In a regression model that included both social relationship and ICI patterns, only the latter was significant. Further investigation of vocalizations, including use of a novel, directed k-means clustering approach, suggested that temporal structure rather than tonal variations may have been responsible for communicating danger. These data offer insight into how different expressions of distress or fear may impact an observer, adding to the complexity of social context effects in studies of empathy and social cognition. The experiments also offer new data on degu alarm calls and a potentially novel methodological approach to complex vocalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep K Lidhar
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, 4th Floor Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada.
| | - Nathan Insel
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, 4th Floor Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Skaggs Building Room 143, 32 Campus Dr. Missoula, MT 59812-1584, USA.
| | - June Yue Dong
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, 4th Floor Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada.
| | - Kaori Takehara-Nishiuchi
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, 4th Floor Sidney Smith Hall, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada.
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12
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McBride EA. Small prey species’ behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals. J Small Anim Pract 2017; 58:423-436. [DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Anne McBride
- School of Psychology; University of Southampton; Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
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13
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Schneiderová I, Zouhar J. Resting-associated vocalization emitted by captive Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus): acoustic structure and variability in an unusual mammalian vocalization. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111571. [PMID: 25390304 PMCID: PMC4229075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Shrews have rich vocal repertoires that include vocalizations within the human audible frequency range and ultrasonic vocalizations. Here, we recorded and analyzed in detail the acoustic structure of a vocalization with unclear functional significance that was spontaneously produced by 15 adult, captive Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) while they were lying motionless and resting in their nests. This vocalization was usually emitted repeatedly in a long series with regular intervals. It showed some structural variability; however, the shrews most frequently emitted a tonal, low-frequency vocalization with minimal frequency modulation and a low, non-vocal click that was clearly noticeable at its beginning. There was no effect of sex, but the acoustic structure of the analyzed vocalizations differed significantly between individual shrews. The encoded individuality was low, but it cannot be excluded that this individuality would allow discrimination of family members, i.e., a male and female with their young, collectively resting in a common nest. The question remains whether the Asian house shrews indeed perceive the presence of their mates, parents or young resting in a common nest via the resting-associated vocalization and whether they use it to discriminate among their family members. Additional studies are needed to explain the possible functional significance of resting-associated vocalizations emitted by captive Asian house shrews. Our study highlights that the acoustic communication of shrews is a relatively understudied topic, particularly considering that they are highly vocal mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Schneiderová
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zouhar
- Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic
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Vocal repertoire ontogeny of the captive Asian house shrew Suncus murinus suggests that the male courtship call develops from the caravanning call of the young. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-013-0141-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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15
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Nakano R, Nakagawa R, Tokimoto N, Okanoya K. Alarm call discrimination in a social rodent: adult but not juvenile degu calls induce high vigilance. J ETHOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-012-0355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Gustison ML, le Roux A, Bergman TJ. Derived vocalizations of geladas (Theropithecus gelada) and the evolution of vocal complexity in primates. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:1847-59. [PMID: 22641823 PMCID: PMC3367700 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Primates are intensely social and exhibit extreme variation in social structure, making them particularly well suited for uncovering evolutionary connections between sociality and vocal complexity. Although comparative studies find a correlation between social and vocal complexity, the function of large vocal repertoires in more complex societies remains unclear. We compared the vocal complexity found in primates to both mammals in general and human language in particular and found that non-human primates are not unusual in the complexity of their vocal repertoires. To better understand the function of vocal complexity within primates, we compared two closely related primates (chacma baboons and geladas) that differ in their ecology and social structures. A key difference is that gelada males form long-term bonds with the 2-12 females in their harem-like reproductive unit, while chacma males primarily form temporary consortships with females. We identified homologous and non-homologous calls and related the use of the derived non-homologous calls to specific social situations. We found that the socially complex (but ecologically simple) geladas have larger vocal repertoires. Derived vocalizations of geladas were primarily used by leader males in affiliative interactions with 'their' females. The derived calls were frequently used following fights within the unit suggesting that maintaining cross-sex bonds within a reproductive unit contributed to this instance of evolved vocal complexity. Thus, our comparison highlights the utility of using closely related species to better understand the function of vocal complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan L Gustison
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Colonnello V, Iacobucci P, Fuchs T, Newberry RC, Panksepp J. Octodon degus. A useful animal model for social-affective neuroscience research: basic description of separation distress, social attachments and play. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011; 35:1854-63. [PMID: 21477615 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A challenge for social-affective neuroscience programs is to identify simple and yet valid animal models for studying the expression of basic social emotions and their role during different developmental windows, from infancy to adulthood. For example, although laboratory rats are useful for studying juvenile social interactions, they are not ideal for studying infant attachment bonds. Here, we evaluate current understanding of the social behavior of Octodon degus, a diurnal precocial rodent, to elucidate the value of this species as a model for social-affective neuroscience research. After a synopsis of species-specific characteristics and brain susceptibility to changes of social environment, our behavioral findings on degu social proclivities are summarized. We then discuss why this pre-clinical model provides a valuable addition to the commonly available animal models for the study of human psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Colonnello
- Center for the Study of Animal Well-being, Department of Veterinary & Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6520, USA.
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Colonnello V, Iacobucci P, Panksepp J. Analysis of the disruption of maternal social bonds in Octodon degus: Separation distress in restricted reunion tests. Dev Psychobiol 2011; 53:657-69. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.20539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Uekita T, Okanoya K. Hippocampus lesions induced deficits in social and spatial recognition in Octodon degus. Behav Brain Res 2011; 219:302-9. [PMID: 21291914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Revised: 01/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies of rodents reported that the hippocampus plays an important role in social behavior as well as spatial behavior. However, there are inconsistencies between reports of the effects of hippocampal lesions on social behavior. The present study sought to clarify the aspects of social behavior in which the hippocampus plays a role in the degu, Octodon degus, a social rodent. We examined the effects of hippocampal lesions on social behavior in the degu using familiar and novel partners. When placed in a familiar environment with a familiar partner after surgery, sham operation control (S.Cont) degus exhibited affinitive behavior longer compared with hippocampal lesioned (HPC) degus. In a novel environment, S.Cont degus exhibited longer aggressive behavior toward novel partners, and longer affinitive behavior with familiar partners compared with HPC degus. HPC degus did not show evidence of differentiation in social behavior, regardless of partner's novelty. The results of an anxiety test confirmed that these findings could not be attributed to changes in emotional state. We conducted an object-recognition test with the same subjects. HPC degus showed an impairment in spatial recognition but not object recognition. Taken together, these results suggest that the degu hippocampus plays an important role not only in spatial recognition but also social recognition. The changes in social behavior resulting from hippocampal lesions were interpreted as due to an impairment of social recognition rather than an impairment in novelty detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Uekita
- Laboratory for Biolinguistics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-Shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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Colonnello V, Iacobucci P, Anderson MP, Panksepp J. Brief periods of positive peer interactions mitigate the effects of total social isolation in young Octodon degus. Dev Psychobiol 2010; 53:280-90. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.20520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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