Sex differences in vocalizations to familiar or unfamiliar females in mice

Abstract

Mice, both wild and laboratory strains, emit ultrasound to communicate. The sex differences between male to female (male-female) and female to female (female- female) ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) have been discussed for decades. In the present study, we compared the number of USVs emitted to familiar and unfamiliar females by both males (male-female USVs) and females (female-female USVs). We found that females vocalized more to unfamiliar than to familiar females. In contrast, males exhibited more USVs to familiar partners. This sexually dimorphic behavior suggests that mice change their vocal behavior in response to the social context, and their perception of the context is based on social cognition and memory. In addition, because males vocalized more to familiar females, USVs appear to be not just a response to novel things or individuals, but also to be a social response.