The effect of acoustic environment on ultrasonic communication in mice

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K18398
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science; Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Yui 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所 疾病研究第七部, 特別研究員 (90789942)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: マウス / 音響環境 / 内分泌 / 行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The environmental condition is known to affect brain anatomy, cognitive function, physiology and behavior in animals, and environmental enrichment is beneficial for the well-being of captive animals. In this study, we focused on the acoustic environment and examined its effects on lifespan, hormonal state and behavior in C57BL/6J mice. By using playback experiment in breeding cage, we found that enriched acoustic environment prolonged their natural lifespan, especially in males. In addition, acoustic environment changed corticosterone level and exploratory behavior of the mice in short-term playback experiment. These results show that acoustic environments affect health, endocrine system, and behavior in rodents, emphasizing the importance of considering ambient sounds in environmental enrichment.

Free Research Field

実験心理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動物をとりまく環境は、その行動や健康に多大な影響を与える。近年、捕獲動物や実験動物の飼育環境は問題視されており、環境エンリッチメント研究は動物福祉における重要な課題となっている。本研究では、飼育環境に取り入れやすい音に着目し、その包括的な影響を明らかにした。この成果は、環境エンリッチメントにおける音響環境の重要性を示し、捕獲動物の飼育環境の改善に繋がるだけでなく、私たち人間をとりまく音響環境の安全性や快適性を考える上で重要な知見を提供するだろう。