The vocalization behavior of Mongolian gerbils, a model animal of auditory physiology, was examined. A pair of gerbils was placed in a chamber, and their species-specific vocalizations and locomotive behaviors were recorded and analyzed. Two types of calls were predominantly produced: high-frequency upward frequency-modulated (HU-FM) calls and low-frequency multi-harmonic frequency-modulated (LM-FM) calls. Emission rates of HU-FM calls significantly decreased as the distance between the two gerbils increased, and playback of simulated HU-FM calls increased the emission rates. Acoustic analysis of HU-FM calls showed that the calls exhibited a stereotypic spectro-temporal structure including a fixed inter-onset interval (100–175 ms) and that individual differences in the frequency could convey the body size of the callers. The timing of HU-FM calls was highly synchronized with jump movements when an animal vocalized while jumping, suggesting the existence of tight locomotor-vocal coupling. Conversely, LM-FM calls were observed only when the gerbils tactilely contacted with each other while fighting over a food. These results suggest that Mongolian gerbils change the rates of call emissions and call types (e.g., LM-FM or HU-FM calls) in response to changes in visual and possibly tactile and auditory information. The functions of both calls are discussed in terms of their acoustic structures.
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December 2011
December 15 2011
Vocalization control in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) during locomotion behavior
Kohei Nishiyama;
Kohei Nishiyama
Department of Biomedical Information, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences,
Doshisha University
, 1-3 Miyakodani, Tatara, Kyotanabe-city, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
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Kohta I. Kobayasi;
Kohta I. Kobayasi
a)
Department of Biomedical Information, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences,
Doshisha University
, 1-3 Miyakodani, Tatara, Kyotanabe-city, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
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Hiroshi Riquimaroux
Hiroshi Riquimaroux
Department of Biomedical Information, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences,
Doshisha University
, 1-3 Miyakodani, Tatara, Kyotanabe-city, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan
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a)
Also at Neurosensing and Bionavigation Research Center, Doshisha University.
b)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected]
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130, 4148–4157 (2011)
Article history
Received:
June 14 2011
Accepted:
August 26 2011
Citation
Kohei Nishiyama, Kohta I. Kobayasi, Hiroshi Riquimaroux; Vocalization control in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) during locomotion behavior. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 December 2011; 130 (6): 4148–4157. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.3651815
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