Squeak: Male Mice Sing Complex Songs For New Mates

According to research coming of Duke University, male mice apparently use two different “songs” to attract potential mates.

The male mice use more complex “ultrasonic vocalizations” to call out to female mice that may be nearby. Then his tune changes once a female mouse is close, and the hopeful suitor switches to simpler, quieter sounds to woo her.

In the original post from Discovery News, Richard Farrell explains that this data could help studies of autism disorder in humans.

Next, the scientists plan to study how particular genes and brain areas play into the songs the mice are singing. If they can figure out to what degree mice can learn to modify their songs, they say, it could be helpful in the study of autism spectrum disorders, where social communication and brain circuitry that affects learned behavior are impacted.

No word yet on whether they’re singing Pop or R&B.

(via io9)

Are you following The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Jessica Lachenal

Jessica Lachenal is a writer who doesn’t talk about herself a lot, so she isn’t quite sure how biographical info panels should work. But here we go anyway. She's the Weekend Editor for The Mary Sue, a Contributing Writer for The Bold Italic (thebolditalic.com), and a Staff Writer for Spinning Platters (spinningplatters.com). She's also been featured in Model View Culture and Frontiers LA magazine, and on Autostraddle. She hopes this has been as awkward for you as it has been for her.

twitter