Social Transmission of Fear in Rats: The Role of 22-kHz Ultrasonic Distress Vocalization

Abstract

These results--that prior experience of fear and intact auditory system are required for receiver rats to respond to their conspecifics' conditioned fear responses--indicate that the 22-kHz USV is the main factor for social transmission of fear and that learning plays a crucial role in the development of social signaling of danger by USVs.