Early experience, ultrasonic vocalizations, and maternal responsiveness in rats

Abstract

Abstract Following a 2‐min exposure to 5–6°c, neonatal rats emit ultrasounds for about 5 min, resulting in effective maternal care. Five minutes of 5–6°C, causes prolonged ultrasonic vocalizations and correlated agitation in the mothers. The nonlinear effects of variable intensities of neonatal stimulation appear to related to these differences in maternal behavior.