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22-kHz calls by isolated rats

Abstract

CALLS of about 22 kHz occur during two kinds of social interaction among rats, Rattus norvegicus: they are produced by submissive animals in agonistic encounters1 and by males after ejaculation2,3. I have now discovered that calls of similar structure regularly occur without social stimulation and in a daily pattern controlled by the light–dark cycle. Such ‘spontaneous’ 22-kHz calls may help in the maintenance and development of other behaviour patterns.

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FRANCIS, R. 22-kHz calls by isolated rats. Nature 265, 236–238 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/265236a0

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