Altered emotional prosody processing in patients with Parkinson's disease after subthalamic nucleus stimulation

Evidence for a vocal signature in the rat and its reinforcing effects: a key role for the subthalamic nucleus

Although rodents have a well-structured vocal form of communication, like humans and non-human primates, there is, to date, no evidence for a vocal signature in the well-known 50- and 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats. Here, we show that rats can recognize the identity of the USV emitter since they choose to preferentially self-administer playback of 50-kHz USVs emitted by a stranger rat over those of their cagemate. In a second experiment, we show that only stranger, but not familiar, 50-kHz USVs reduce cocaine self-administration. Finally, to study the neurobiological substrate of these processes, we have shown that subthalamic nucleus (STN)-lesioned rats did not lever press much for any USV playback, whatever their emotional valence, nor did they seem able to differentiate familiar from stranger peer. Advocating for the existence of a vocal signature in rats, these results highlight the importance of ultrasonic communication in the socio-affective influence of behaviour, such as the influence of proximal social factors on drug consumption and confirm the role of the STN on this influence.

Evidence for a vocal signature in the rat and its reinforcing effects: a key role for the subthalamic nucleus

Although rodents have a well-structured vocal form of communication, like humans and non-human primates, there is, to date, no evidence for a vocal signature in the well-known 50- and 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats. Here, we show that rats can recognize the identity of the USV emitter since they choose to preferentially self-administer playback of 50-kHz USVs emitted by a stranger rat over those of their cagemate. In a second experiment, we show that only stranger, but not familiar, 50-kHz USVs reduce cocaine self-administration. Finally, to study the neurobiological substrate of these processes, we have shown that subthalamic nucleus (STN)-lesioned rats did not lever press much for any USV playback, whatever their emotional valence, nor did they seem able to differentiate familiar from stranger peer. Advocating for the existence of a vocal signature in rats, these results highlight the importance of ultrasonic communication in the socio-affective influence of behaviour, such as the influence of proximal social factors on drug consumption and confirm the role of the STN on this influence.

Social perceptual function in parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis

Social perceptual impairment is a common presenting feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) that has the potential to contribute considerably to disease burden. The current study reports a meta-analytic integration of 79 studies which shows that, relative to controls, PD is associated with a moderate emotion recognition deficit (g = -0.57, K = 73), and that this deficit is robust and almost identical across facial and prosodic modalities. However, the magnitude of this impairment does appear to vary as a function of task and emotion type, with deficits generally greatest for identification tasks (g = -0.65, K = 54), and for negative relative to other basic emotions. With respect to clinical variables, dopaminergic medication, deep brain stimulation, and a predominant left side onset of motor symptoms are each associated with greater social perceptual difficulties. However, the magnitude of social perceptual impairment seen for the four atypical parkinsonian conditions is broadly comparable to that associated with PD. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.