A broadband digitizing rat detector: Simultaneous recording from all sound frequencies in the range of rat ultrasonic vocalizations

Abstract

A system is described that digitizes rodent vocalizations after the signals have passed through a spectrum analyzer. The system’s capacity to record simultaneously from all frequencies in a range selected by the experimenter is demonstrated. In the graphic display, both single and simultaneous multiple vocalizations of rats ranging freely in large experimental rooms are presented. The capacity of this system to record simultaneous vocalizations in a form that permits rapid analysis of many of the parameters of the signals is especially useful in the analysis of rodent social behavior.