The Thyrohyoid Muscle: A Crucial Player in Deglutition and Vocalization / El Músculo Tirohioideo: Un Actor Crucial en la Deglución y la Vocalización

SUMMARY: The thyrohyoid muscle is one of the four infrahyoid muscles. Its role in vocalization and deglutition could be often overlooked, despite its crucial participation in these processes. Unlike other infrahyoid muscles, the thyrohyoid muscle receives innervation from the first cervical spinal nerves which contributes to its unique function. Its primary action involves hyolaryngeal elevation during swallowing, contributing to the opening of the upper esophageal sphincter. In conjunction with other muscles, it also protects the airway and facilitates the passage of food into the esophagus. Variations in the muscle's thickness may exist, and its function can be influenced by chewing habits. Weakened muscles involved in swallowing are often associated with dysphagia, a common complication in stroke and brain-injured patients. Advanced imaging techniques and sleep studies have provided insights into the dynamics and frequency of swallowing. This review explores the anatomic structures, function in action, diagnosis and clinical implications of this muscle. Overall, understanding the significance of the thyrohyoid muscle enhances our comprehension of the intricate interplay of laryngeal muscles during vocalization and deglutition.

El músculo tirohioideo es uno de los cuatro músculos infrahioideos. A menudo podría pasarse por alto su papel en la vocalización y la deglución, a pesar de su participación crucial en estos procesos. A diferencia de otros músculos infrahioideos, el músculo tirohioideo recibe inervación de los primeros nervios espinales cervicales, lo que contribuye a su función única. Su acción principal implica la elevación hiolaríngea durante la deglución, contribuyendo a la apertura del esfínter esofágico superior. Junto con otros músculos, también protege las vías respiratorias y facilita el paso de los alimentos al esófago. Pueden existir variaciones en el grosor del músculo y su función puede verse influenciada por los hábitos de masticación. Los músculos debilitados involucrados en la deglución a menudo se asocian con disfagia, una complicación común en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular y lesión cerebral. Las técnicas de imagen avanzadas y los estudios del sueño han proporcionado información sobre la dinámica y la frecuencia de la deglución. Esta revisión explora las estructuras anatómicas, la función en acción, el diagnóstico y las implicaciones clínicas de este músculo. En general, comprender la importancia del músculo tirohioideo mejora nuestra comprensión de la intrincada interacción de los músculos laríngeos durante la vocalización y la deglución.

Sex differences in carbamazepine effects in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) represents the first-line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, a condition of facial pain that affects mainly women. The chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION) is a widely used model to study this condition, but most studies do not include females. Thus, this study aimed to characterize sensory and affective changes in female rats after CCI-ION and compare the effect of CBZ in both sexes. Mechanical allodynia was assessed 15 days after CCI-ION surgery in rats treated with CBZ (10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle, together with the open-field test. Independent groups were tested on the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) paradigm and ultrasonic vocalization (USV) analysis. Blood samples were collected for dosage of the main CBZ metabolite. CBZ at 30 mg/kg impaired locomotion of CCI-ION male and sham and CCI-ION female rats and resulted in significantly higher plasma concentrations of 10-11-EPX-CBZ in the latter. Only male CCI-ION rats showed increased facial grooming which was significantly reduced by CBZ at 10 mg/kg. CBZ at 10 mg/kg significantly reduced mechanical allodynia and induced CPP only in female CCI-ION rats. Also, female CCI-ION showed reduced emission of appetitive USV but did not show anxiety-like behavior. In conclusion, male and female CCI-ION rats presented differences in the expression of the affective-motivational pain component and CBZ was more effective in females than males. Further studies using both sexes in trigeminal neuropathic pain models are warranted for a better understanding of potential differences in the pathophysiological mechanisms and efficacy of pharmacological treatments.

Biperiden reverses the increase in 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations but not the increase in locomotor activity induced by cocaine.

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a worldwide public health problem, associated with severe psychosocial and economic impacts. Currently, no FDA-approved treatment is available for CUD. However, an emerging body of evidence from clinical and preclinical studies suggests that biperiden, an M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist, presents potential therapeutic use for CUD. These studies have suggested that biperiden may reduce the reinforcing effects of cocaine. It is well established that rodents emit 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) in response to natural rewards and stimulant drugs, including cocaine. Nonetheless, the effects of biperiden on the cocaine-induced increase of 50-kHz USV remains unknown. Here, we hypothesized that biperiden could antagonize the acute effects of cocaine administration on rat 50-kHz USV. To test this hypothesis, adult male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: saline, 5 mg/kg biperiden, 10 mg/kg cocaine, and biperiden/cocaine (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p., respectively). USV and locomotor activity were recorded in baseline and test sessions. As expected, cocaine administration significantly increased the number of 50-kHz USV. Biperiden administration effectively antagonized the increase in 50-kHz USV induced by cocaine. Cocaine administration also increased the emission of trill and mixed 50 kHz USV subtypes and this effect was antagonized by biperiden. Additionally, we showed that biperiden did not affect the cocaine-induced increase in locomotor activity, although biperiden administration per se increased locomotor activity. In conclusion, our findings indicate that administering biperiden acutely reduces the positive affective effects of cocaine, as demonstrated by its ability to inhibit the increase in 50-kHz USV.

Forty-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations of rat pups predict adult behavior in the elevated plus-maze behavior but not the effect of cocaine on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations.

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) are emitted by both young pups and adult rats to convey positive or negative emotional states. These USV manifestations are contingent on factors including developmental stage, situational requirements, and individual dispositions. Pups emit 40-kHz USV when separated from their mother and litter, which function to elicit maternal care. Conversely, adult rats can produce 50-kHz USV in response to stimuli that elicit reward-related states, including natural rewards, stimulant drugs, and reward-predictive stimuli. The present study aims to investigate whether pup 40-kHz USV can serve as predictors of behaviors related to positive or negative states in adult rats. Both male and female Wistar pups were initially tested on the 11th postnatal day and subsequently in adulthood. There was no significant difference in the number of 40-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations between male and female pups. However, cocaine elicited more 50-kHz USV and hyperactivity in adult females compared to males. Notably, cocaine increased the proportion of step and trill USV subtypes in both adult males and females. Interestingly, this effect of cocaine was stronger in females that were in the diestrus, compared to the estrus phase. In males, a significant positive correlation was found between pup 40-kHz USV and lower anxiety scores in adult male but not female rats tested on the elevated plus-maze test. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between pup 40-kHz and adult 50-kHz USV in both males and females, whether in undrugged (saline) or in cocaine-treated rats. It is possible that the 40-kHz USV emitted by pups predicted reduced anxiety-like behavior only for male rats because they could elicit maternal care directed specifically to male pups. These findings suggest that 40-kHz USV can serve as an indicator of the emotional link between the rat mother and male pups. Indeed, this suggests that maternal care exerts a positive influence on the emotional state during adulthood.

Non-invasive, real-time stress measurement: Vocalization compared with thermal imaging in kittens of the domestic cat in response to social separation.

Finding tools to assess the stress response which can be easily applied, are non-invasive, reliable and measured in real time is still a relevant topic in many areas of biology. Vocal characteristics and temperature of certain body areas have been suggested to reflect HPA axis and ANS activation. We hypothesized that changes in vocalizations and peripheral body temperature will show the magnitude of the stress response, and that the change in these will covary. Our aim was to measure the change in vocal characteristics and eye and nasal temperature of kittens (n = 43 from nine litters of seven mixed-breed mothers) during a potentially stressful event and to test how these correlated. We found change in several vocal and thermal parameters during a short social separation. Our findings indicate that arousal due to ANS activation in kittens of the domestic cat resulted in an increasing number of vocalisations of longer duration and higher intensity, and in lower and a wider range in fundamental frequency. Calls also became less tonal with more jitter. Change in temperature was generally negative in the lacrimal caruncle as well as in the rhinarium, but with great variance across individuals. Change in eye temperature positively correlated with the intensity of the calls and the change in nose temperature positively correlated with the change in call length. The results suggest the continued difficulty in interpreting both physiological and behavioural data to assess an individual´s stress response.

First record of a snake call in South America: the unusual sound of an ornate snail-eater Dipsas catesbyi

ABSTRACT The auditory systems and sound dynamics in snakes are frequent objects of debate. The known frequency of sounds produced by snakes ranges from 0.2 to 9.5 kHz. Here we report the first record of a vocalization by the South American snake Dipsas catesbyi. The call was recorded oportunistically in June 2021 upon manipulation, and had a duration of 0.06 seconds, reaching 3036 Hz in its peak frequency with a modulated note, emitted through exhalation of air through the larynx. We hypothesize that structured vocal emissions such as this are a reaction to a predation attempt and may be a feature shared by other species of Dipsadidae and other snakes.

RESUMO Os sistemas auditivos e a dinâmica do som em cobras são objetos frequentes de debate. A frequência conhecida dos sons produzidos pelas cobras varia de 0,2 a 9,5 kHz. Aqui relatamos o primeiro registro de vocalização da cobra sul-americana Dipsas catesbyi. O canto foi gravado oportunisticamente em junho de 2021 mediante manuseio, e teve duração de 0,06 segundos, atingindo 3036 Hz em sua frequência de pico com nota modulada, emitida por meio da exalação de ar pela laringe. Nossa hipótese é que emissões vocais estruturadas como esta são uma reação a uma tentativa de predação e podem ser uma característica compartilhada por outras espécies de Dipsadidae e outras serpentes.

Ecological factors drive the divergence of morphological, colour and behavioural traits in cactus wrens (Aves, Troglodytidae).

The study of ecological mechanisms influencing organisms' phenotypic variation is a central subject of evolutionary biology. In this study, we characterized morphological, plumage colour and acoustic variation in cactus wrens Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus throughout its distribution. We assessed whether Gloger's, Allen's and Bergmann's ecogeographical rules, and the acoustic adaptation hypothesis relate to geographical trait variation. We analysed specimen coloration in belly and crown plumage, beak shape and structural song characteristics. We tested whether the subspecific classification or the peninsular/mainland groups mirrored the geographical variation in phenotypes and whether ecological factors were associated with patterns of trait variation. Our results suggest that colour, beak shape and acoustic traits varied across the range, in agreement with two lineages described by genetics. The simple versions of Gloger's and Allen's rules are related to variations in colour traits and morphology. Conversely, patterns of phenotypic variation did not support Bergmann's rule. The acoustic adaptation hypothesis supported song divergence for frequency-related traits. Phenotypic variation supports the hypothesis of two taxa: C. affinis in the Baja California peninsula and C. brunneicapillus in the mainland. The ecological factors are associated with phenotypic trait adaptations, suggesting that divergence between lineages could result from ecological divergence.

Activation of a hypothalamus-habenula circuit by mechanical stimulation inhibits cocaine addiction-like behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Mechanoreceptor activation modulates GABA neuron firing and dopamine (DA) release in the mesolimbic DA system, an area implicated in reward and substance abuse. The lateral habenula (LHb), the lateral hypothalamus (LH), and the mesolimbic DA system are not only reciprocally connected, but also involved in drug reward. We explored the effects of mechanical stimulation (MS) on cocaine addiction-like behaviors and the role of the LH-LHb circuit in the MS effects. MS was performed over ulnar nerve and the effects were evaluated by using drug seeking behaviors, optogenetics, chemogenetics, electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Mechanical stimulation attenuated locomotor activity in a nerve-dependent manner and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and DA release in nucleus accumbens (NAc) following cocaine injection. The MS effects were ablated by electrolytic lesion or optogenetic inhibition of LHb. Optogenetic activation of LHb suppressed cocaine-enhanced 50 kHz USVs and locomotion. MS reversed cocaine suppression of neuronal activity of LHb. MS also inhibited cocaine-primed reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, which was blocked by chemogenetic inhibition of an LH-LHb circuit. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that peripheral mechanical stimulation activates LH-LHb pathways to attenuate cocaine-induced psychomotor responses and seeking behaviors.

Performance of autonomous recorders to detect a cryptic and endangered primate species, the black lion-tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus).

Information about species distribution is important for conservation but the monitoring of populations can demand a high sampling effort with traditional methods (e.g., line transects, sound playback) that are poorly efficient for cryptic primates, such as the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus). Here we investigated the effectiveness of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as an alternative method to identify the presence of vocalizing lion tamarins in the wild. We aimed to: (1) determine the maximum distance at which autonomous recorders (Song Meter 3) and Raven Pro acoustic software can respectively detect and identify lion tamarin long calls emitted by two captive subjects (ex situ study); and (2) determine the sampling effort required to confirm the presence of the species in the wild (in situ study). In captive settings, we recorded lion tamarin long calls with one to two autonomous recorders operating at increasing distances from the animals' enclosure (8-202 m). In a 515 ha forest fragment, we deployed 12 recorders in a grid, 300 m apart from each other, within the estimated 100 ha home range of one group, and let them record for 10 consecutive days, totaling 985 h. In the ex situ study, hand-browsing of spectrograms yielded 298 long calls emitted from 8 to 194 m, and Raven's Template Detector identified 54.6% of them, also emitted from 8 to 194 m. In the in situ study, we manually counted 1115 long calls, and the Raven's Template Detector identified 44.75% of them. Furthermore, the presence of lion tamarins was confirmed within 1 day using four randomly sorted recorders, whereas 5 days on average were necessary with only one device. While specific protocols still need to be developed to determine primate population size using this technology, we concluded that PAM is a promising tool when considering long term costs and benefits.

Activation of a hypothalamus-habenula circuit by mechanical stimulation inhibits cocaine addiction-like behaviors

BACKGROUND: Mechanoreceptor activation modulates GABA neuron firing and dopamine (DA) release in the mesolimbic DA system, an area implicated in reward and substance abuse. The lateral habenula (LHb), the lateral hypothalamus (LH), and the mesolimbic DA system are not only reciprocally connected, but also involved in drug reward. We explored the effects of mechanical stimulation (MS) on cocaine addiction-like behaviors and the role of the LH-LHb circuit in the MS effects. MS was performed over ulnar nerve and the effects were evaluated by using drug seeking behaviors, optogenetics, chemogenetics, electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Mechanical stimulation attenuated locomotor activity in a nerve-dependent manner and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and DA release in nucleus accumbens (NAc) following cocaine injection. The MS effects were ablated by electrolytic lesion or optogenetic inhibition of LHb. Optogenetic activation of LHb suppressed cocaine-enhanced 50 kHz USVs and locomotion. MS reversed cocaine suppression of neuronal activity of LHb. MS also inhibited cocaine-primed reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, which was blocked by chemogenetic inhibition of an LH-LHb circuit. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that peripheral mechanical stimulation activates LH-LHb pathways to attenuate cocaine-induced psychomotor responses and seeking behaviors.

Mother-young bond in non-human mammals: Neonatal communication pathways and neurobiological basis.

Mother-young bonding is a process by which the young establish social preferences for their mother. It fosters reproductive success and the survival of offspring by providing food, heat, and maternal care. This process promotes the establishment of the mother-young bond through the interaction of olfactory, auditory, tactile, visual, and thermal stimuli. The neural integration of multimodal sensory stimuli and attachment is coordinated into motor responses. The sensory and neurobiological mechanisms involved in filial recognition in precocial and altricial mammals are summarized and analyzed in this review.

Síndrome de ansiedade de separação animal na população canina de Teresina/Piauí, Brasil / Separation anxiety syndrome in the canine population of Teresina/Piauí, Brazil

A Síndrome de Ansiedade de Separação Animal (SASA) em cães é uma alteração comportamental comum na atualidade, decorrente do novo estilo de vida e de modificações sociais. Os sinais que compõem a síndrome são vocalização excessiva, destruição de objetos e micção e defecação fora do lugar determinado. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar animais portadores da síndrome e seus sinais, assim como avaliar o conhecimento dos tutores sobre os distúrbios comportamentais nos animais. A pesquisa foi realizada em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário, com uma população canina formada por 131 pacientes. Os cães foram avaliados sem distinção de raça, sexo, tamanho e idade por meio de informações fornecidas pelos proprietários, que foram indagados através de um questionário desenvolvido para o estudo. Ao avaliar os 131 questionários respondidos, observou 43,51% de animais positivos para SASA. Dentre os 57 animais positivos para SASA, 28 eram fêmeas e 29 machos. Um total de 12,28% das fêmeas foram castradas, enquanto para os machos, os castrados correspondiam a 5,26%. Os principais sinais observados foram vocalização excessiva (66,66%), comportamento destrutivo (57,89%) e sinais de depressão na ausência do tutor (35,08%). Afirmou-se que 85,97% dos tutores de animais positivos para SASA procuraram um veterinário para tratar problemas comportamentais e que 29,82% possuíam conhecimento sobre a existência da síndrome. Conclui-se que a SASA é comum em cães entre os clientes avaliados. Devido ao desconhecimento dos tutores sobre distúrbios comportamentais, sugere-se que os médicos veterinários abordem o assunto com mais frequência, enfatizando suas consequências e a necessidade de tratamento.

Animal Separation Anxiety Syndrome (ASAS) in dogs is a common behavioral change nowadays, resulting from new lifestyle and social changes. The signs of the syndrome are excessive vocalization, destruction of objects, and urination and defecation out of the determined place. Thus, this study aimed to identify animals with the syndrome and its signs, as well as evaluate the knowledge of the tutors about behavioral disorders in animals. The research was carried out at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a canine population of 131 patients. Dogs were evaluated without distinction of breed, sex, size, and age through information provided by the owners, who were asked through a questionnaire developed for the study. By evaluating the 131 answered questionnaires, 43.51% of animals were positive for ASAS. Among the 57 ASAS-positive animals, 28 were female, and 29 were male. A total of 12.28% of the females were castrated, while for the males, the castrated corresponded to 5.26%. The main signs observed were excessive vocalization (66.66%), destructive behavior (57.89%), and signs of depression in the absence of the tutor (35.08%). It was stated that 85.97% of SASA-positive animal owners searched for a veterinarian to treat behavioral problems and that 29.82% of SASA-positive animal owners were aware of the existence of the syndrome. It was concluded that SASA is common in dogs among the assessed clients. Due to the lack of knowledge of tutors about behavioral disorders, it is suggested that veterinarians address the subject more frequently, emphasizing its consequences and the need for treatment.

Moderate ethanol exposure during early ontogeny of the rat alters respiratory plasticity, ultrasonic distress vocalizations, increases brain catalase activity, and acetaldehyde-mediated ethanol intake.

Early ontogeny of the rat (late gestation and postnatal first week) is a sensitive period to ethanol's positive reinforcing effects and its detrimental effects on respiratory plasticity. Recent studies show that acetaldehyde, the first ethanol metabolite, plays a key role in the modulation of ethanol motivational effects. Ethanol brain metabolization into acetaldehyde via the catalase system appears critical in modulating ethanol positive reinforcing consequences. Catalase system activity peak levels occur early in the ontogeny. Yet, the role of ethanol-derived acetaldehyde during the late gestational period on respiration response, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), and ethanol intake during the first week of the rat remains poorly explored. In the present study, pregnant rats were given a subcutaneous injection of an acetaldehyde-sequestering agent (D-penicillamine, 50 mg/kg) or saline (0.9% NaCl), 30 min prior to an intragastric administration of ethanol (2.0 g/kg) or water (vehicle) on gestational days 17-20. Respiration rates (breaths/min) and apneic episodes in a whole-body plethysmograph were registered on postnatal days (PDs) 2 and 4, while simultaneously pups received milk or ethanol infusions for 40-min in an artificial lactation test. Each intake test was followed by a 5-min long USVs emission record. On PD 8, immediately after pups completed a 15-min ethanol intake test, brain samples were collected and kept frozen for catalase activity determination. Results indicated that a moderate experience with ethanol during the late gestational period disrupted breathing plasticity, increased ethanol intake, as well brain catalase activity. Animals postnatally exposed to ethanol increased their ethanol intake and exerted differential affective reactions on USVs and apneic episodes depending on whether the experience with ethanol occur prenatal or postnatally. Under the present experimental conditions, we failed to observe, a clear role of acetaldehyde mediating ethanol's effects on respiratory plasticity or affective states, nevertheless gestational acetaldehyde was of crucial importance in determining subsequent ethanol intake affinity. As a whole, results emphasize the importance of considering the participation of acetaldehyde in fetal programming processes derived from a brief moderate ethanol experience early in development, which in turn, argues against "safe or harmless" ethanol levels of exposure.

Changes in whistle parameters of two common bottlenose dolphin ecotypes as a result of the physical presence of the research vessel.

In the presence of vessels, dolphins have been found to change their habitat, behavior, group composition and whistle repertoire. The modification of the whistle parameters is generally considered to be a response to the engine noise. Little is known about the impact of the physical presence of vessels on dolphin acoustics. Whistle parameters of the coastal and oceanic ecotypes of common bottlenose dolphins in La Paz Bay, Mexico, were measured after the approach of the research vessel and its engine shutdown. Recordings of 10 min were made immediately after turning off the engine. For analysis, these recordings were divided from minute 0 to minute 5, and from minute 5:01 to minute 10. The whistles of the oceanic ecotype showed higher maximum, minimum and peak frequency in the second time interval compared to the first one. The whistle rate decreased in the second time interval. The whistles of the coastal ecotype showed no difference between the two time intervals. The physical presence of the research vessel could have induced a change in the whistle parameters of the oceanic dolphins until habituation to the vessel disturbance. The oceanic ecotype could increase the whistle rate and decrease the whistle frequencies to maintain acoustic contact more frequently and for longer distances. The coastal ecotype, showing no significant changes in the whistle parameters, could be more habituated to the presence of vessels and display a higher tolerance.

Neonatal Anoxia Impacts Rats' Maternal Behavior and Offspring Development due to Ultrasonic Vocalization's Impairment.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a severe clinical condition, among others, affecting the brain after offspring exposure to neonatal anoxia, which causes persistent sensorimotor and cognitive deficits. During peripartum, maternal behaviors are crucial for the healthy development of the offspring. In rats, the vocalization of newborns, around 40 kHz, corresponds to separation calls that encourage their mothers to retrieve them. Alterations in this pattern affect the maternal behavior addressed to the offspring. This study aimed to evaluate the maternal behavior of primiparous rats whose offspring were exposed to neonatal anoxia in P2 (postpartum day) during the lactation period, to assess mother-pup interactions through the pups' vocalization from P3 to P18. It also intends to quantify eventual neuronal alterations in the mothers' medial preoptic area after the last weaning (P21) through FOS protein expression. Anoxia offspring were found to reduce maternal behaviors toward them, increased frequency of separation calls in the male anoxia group, and reduced vocalization rate in the female anoxia group compared to their respective controls. Body weight gain reduction of males' and females' anoxia was observed. We concluded that anoxia exerts deleterious effects on the vocalization patterns of the pups, with sex differences that alter maternal behavior toward them. Impaired USV makes an additional negative impact on the already noxious effects of neonatal anoxia. Understanding those phenomena applies/contributes to guiding procedures and strategies to mitigate the deleterious outcomes and orient research concerning the complexity of neonatal anoxia events and the influence of maternal care quality concerning the pups, which should also be considered sex differences.

Trigeminal neuropathic pain causes changes in affective processing of pain in rats.

Trigeminal neuropathic pain has been modeled in rodents through the constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION). Sensory alterations, including spontaneous pain, and thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia are well characterized, but there is a notable lack of evidence about the affective pain component in this model. Evaluation of the emotional component of pain in rats has been proposed as a way to optimize potential translational value of non-clinical studies. In rats, 22 and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are considered well-established measures of negative and positive emotional states, respectively. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that trigeminal neuropathic pain would result, in addition to the sensory alterations, in a decrease of 50 kHz USV, which may be related to altered function of brain areas involved in emotional pain processing. CCI-ION surgery was performed on 60-day-old male Wistar rats. 15 days after surgery, von Frey filaments were applied to detect mechanical hyperalgesia, and USV was recorded. At the same timepoint, systemic treatment with d,l-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) allowed investigation of the involvement of the dopaminergic system in USV emission. Finally, brain tissue was collected to assess the change in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and c-Fos expression in brain areas involved in emotional pain processing, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, and NAc. The results showed that CCI-ION rats presented mechanical hyperalgesia and a significant reduction of environmental-induced 50 kHz USV. Amphetamine caused a marked increase in 50 kHz USV emission in CCI-ION rats. In addition, TH expression was lower in constricted animals and c-Fos analysis revealed an increase in neuronal activation. Taken together, these data indicate that CCI-ION causes a reduction in the emission of environmental-induced appetitive calls concomitantly with facial mechanical hyperalgesia and that both changes may be related to a reduction in the mesolimbic dopaminergic activity.

The acoustic behavior of the Brazilian caatinga big rodent is incongruent to its actual position in Hydrochoerinae.

Our knowledge about the acoustic behavior of Caviinae species drove us to investigate Kerodon rupestris's (Caviidae: Hydrochoerinae) repertoire. This species is endemic to Caatinga and states as vulnerable in the Brazilian list of endangered species. We recorded sounds uttered by individuals from Santa Luzia, State of Paraíba, Brazil. We promoted interactions among 13 animals during intra and intersexual pairing sessions, under undisturbed interactions in captivity, and in free-living conditions. We found a repertoire of 13 call types, most of them (all except three) shared with Cavia and only five possibly shared also with Hydrochoerus: (1) Close contact and cohesion: tonal and noisy contact calls, tweet, slow-whistle; (2) Social regulation (incitement, subordination or auto-defense): whine, peepy-squeak, yelp; (3) Offensive aggression and status display: roar, snort, and teeth-chattering (4) Warning or intimidation: alarm-whistle, drrr, and drumming; (5) Courtship: purr and slow-whistle. The similarity of Kerodon signals to Hydrochoerinae species, despite the ecological differences, needs to be understood in comparative phylogenetic studies tracing back the origin of the courtship display in Caviidae. Thus, future research should focus on playback studies to test signals' biological function hypothesis.

Increase in sexual motivation throughout adolescence in the cycling female rat.

Sexual behavior in the female rat is a highly motivated behavior first displayed during adolescence, a developmental period when neural circuits underlying motivation are not mature. This study characterizes the natural development of sexual motivation and behavior of female rats. We compared the incentive value of the male for mid-adolescent (PNDs:39-43), late adolescent (PNDs:49-53), and adult (PNDs:90-115) cycling females, using a male-female preference task and an ultrasonic vocalization emission test following exposure to a male or female stimulus animal. Furthermore, display of sexual and social behaviors during an interaction with a male or a nonreceptive female was assessed. Mid-adolescent rats exhibited a reduced preference for the male than adults and performed less attempts to access the male. Unlike late adolescent and adult females, mid-adolescent rats did not increase their ultrasonic vocalization emission after interacting with a male relative to a female. Although most of the sexual behavior did not differ between groups, mid-adolescent females showed lower lordosis magnitude and higher levels of play and social investigation during a sexual interaction, giving rise to a unique behavioral profile. Present results indicate that the sexual behavior repertoire is fully displayed by mid-adolescence, but sexual motivation is low and increases into late adolescence.

On the validity and taxonomic status of emCrypturellus/em emobsoletus/em emgriseiventris/em (Salvadori, 1895) and emC. o. hypochraceus/em (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1938) (Aves, Tinamidae).

The nine currently recognized subspecies in the Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) complex are disjunctly widespread in South America, and at least three of them occur in Brazil. Morphological diagnosis of most of these taxa is imprecise, in contrast with consistent vocal differences described in the literature. We conducted a taxonomic review of two Amazonian taxa, C. o. griseiventris and C. o. hypochraceus, using morphological, morphometric, and vocal characters. Our results indicate that C. o. hypochraceus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1938) is a junior synonym of C. o. griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895), and that Crypturellus griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895) must be treated as a full species, based on unique and fully diagnosable plumage and vocal patterns.

The effects of stimulus pairings on autistic children's vocalizations: Comparing forward and backward pairings.

In a procedure known as stimulus-stimulus pairing (Yoon and Bennett, 2000), the experimenter pairs a target sound (e.g., "bah") with a child's preferred item (e.g., a toy). Even though the stimulus pairings proceed independently of the child's behavior, this procedure has proved capable of increasing imitation of the target sound in developmentally delayed children (Shillingsburg et al., 2015). The underlying behavioral processes remain poorly known, however, and few systematic variations of the basic procedure have been published. In the present experiment, with autistic children as participants, (a) we compared the effects of forward versus backward pairings on the imitation of target sounds, and (b) we evaluated formally the relation between the children's preexisting verbal repertoires and the efficacy of the pairing procedure. As is often reported in the Pavlovian literature, backward pairings promoted lower levels of conditional responding than forward pairings. Also, we found a negative relation between a child's verbal level and pairing efficacy: children with the lower scores on the Behavioral Language Assessment Form (Sundberg and Partington, 1998) exhibited more conditioning. These findings confirm in a single study what has been so far only suspected informally.