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The effect of acoustic environment on ultrasonic communication in mice

Description: The environmental condition is known to affect brain anatomy, cognitive function, physiology and behavior in animals, and environmental enrichment is beneficial for the well-being of captive animals. In this study, we focused on the acoustic environment and examined its effects on lifespan, hormonal state and behavior in C57BL/6J mice. By using playback experiment in breeding cage, we found that enriched acoustic environment prolonged their natural lifespan, especially in males. In addition, acoustic environment changed corticosterone level and exploratory behavior of the mice in short-term playback experiment. These results show that acoustic environments affect health, endocrine system, and behavior in rodents, emphasizing the importance of considering ambient sounds in environmental enrichment.

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Amount: ¥4,290,000

Funding type: fellowship

Funder scheme: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)

Start date: 2017-04-01

End date: 2020-03-31

Investigator: Yui Matsumoto

Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Topic: Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences