Development of the immobility response (animal hypnosis) in two species of deermice (Peromyscus)

Vestal, Bedford M.

doi:10.3758/bf03209091

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Here we propose that the infant Transport Response to maternal carrying is distinguishable from other types of immobility for five main reasons: 1) the Transport Response is limited to the postnatal period. In contrast, tonic immobility is developed after the third postnatal week in deermice [20] and rabbits [21]; 2) the way of holding the subject animals required for induction is different between the Transport Response and other immobilization types. To induce the Transport Response, the pups are gently picked up just enough to lift the pup’s body up into the air.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transport Response is a filial-specific behavioral response to maternal carrying in C57BL/6 mice

et al. 2013

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BackgroundA mother carries her young in many altricial mammals, such as cats, lions, rats and mice. During maternal carrying, the transported young assume a compact posture. We have recently shown that, in both humans and mice, the carried infants immediately calmed down and showed reductions in heart rate, distress vocalizations, and voluntary movement. The loss of the calming response in mouse pups hindered maternal retrieval efficacy. These findings suggested that the infant calming response functioned to reduce the maternal burden of carrying and was therefore conserved in a variety of mammalian species. However, it remains unclear how and when each component of this calming response develops and whether it is a filial-specific behavior.ResultsWe dissected various components of the carrying-induced responses in mouse pups, collectively called the “Transport Response” herein. We showed that during the second postnatal week, pups exhibited characteristic compact posture with limb ventroflexion. The body trunk remained paradoxically pliable, suggesting complex neural regulation throughout the body. Pups also showed an increased pain tolerance to a tail pinch during the Transport Response. Analyses of the developmental courses of distinct components of the Transport Response revealed the independent regulation of each component: in the first postnatal week, the cessation of ultrasonic vocalizations was exhibited prominently; in the second postnatal week, immobilization reached its peak; and toward the third postnatal week, the postural component became fully matured. At the end of the third postnatal week, when the pups are able to transport by themselves, the pups no longer exhibited the Transport Response.ConclusionsThis study has revealed the mouse Transport Response as a complex set of behavioral and physiological components, each of which has a specific postnatal time window but is orchestrated in a well-matched manner with the maturation of ambulatory ability in the pups. These findings collectively indicate that the Transport Response is a filial-specific, innate behavioral reaction and is distinct from a simple reflex or defensive freezing response. The Transport Response could be a novel index of primitive filial attachment behaviors, acting to smooth mother-infant interaction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transport Response is a filial-specific behavioral response to maternal carrying in C57BL/6 mice

et al. 2013

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“…At a closer distance, the rat might engage in antidetection behavior such as freezing or hiding. As the predator draws nearer, flight might predominate, but when the predator is in contact with the rat, the rat should exhibit violent counterattack and escape behavior, possibly followed by tonic immobility (Ratner, 1967;Vestal, 1975).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CS modality, context conditioning, and conditioned freezing

Sigmundi

Bolles

1983

Animal Learning & Behavior

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Motivational systems of agonistic behavior in muroid rodents: A comparative review and neural model

Adams

1980

Aggr. Behav.

115

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The data on agonistic behavior of muroid rodents that have been obtained from field observations and laboratory experiments are reviewed and compared in terms of a hypothetical model of the neural organization of these behaviors. The neural model has been presented elsewhere and is used here only as a way to organize the data. The data are organized in terms of four hypothetical motivational systems: Offense, defense, submission, and patrol/marking. The various behaviors are considered as motor patterns and are compared and analyzed in terms of the proposed motivating, releasing, and directing stimuli of the motivational systems. Interactions and overlaps between the motivational systems are also considered. It is concluded that the organization of agonistic behavior may be similar across all species of muroid rodents. Generalizations are complicated by the profound effects of ontogenetic factors. Four categories of behaviors differ from species to species: Scent‐marking, submissive behaviors, threat behaviors, and alarm signals. The possible phylogenetic and ontogenetic factors in these differences are considered.

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Development of the immobility response (animal hypnosis) in two species of deermice (Peromyscus)

Cited by 8 publications

References 18 publications

Transport Response is a filial-specific behavioral response to maternal carrying in C57BL/6 mice

Transport Response is a filial-specific behavioral response to maternal carrying in C57BL/6 mice

CS modality, context conditioning, and conditioned freezing

Motivational systems of agonistic behavior in muroid rodents: A comparative review and neural model

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