Rodents remotely move matter using sound to enhance their sense of smell
A University at Buffalo study reveals rodents use ultrasonic vocalizations to enhance their sense of smell by manipulating airborne particles, challenging previous beliefs and suggesting implications for cognitive processes and technology development.
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A recent study by researchers at the University at Buffalo suggests that rodents may use ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) not just for communication but to manipulate their environment and enhance their sense of smell. Eduardo Mercado III, a professor of psychology, proposes that these vocalizations create sound waves that influence the movement of airborne particles, allowing rodents to better detect pheromones and other scents. This finding challenges the long-held belief that USVs primarily serve social or courtship purposes. Mercado's hypothesis emerged from inconsistencies in previous research and observations that rodents sniffed immediately after vocalizing. The implications of this research could extend to understanding cognitive processes in animals and developing new technologies based on these natural mechanisms. The study highlights the potential for rodents to provide insights into human disorders related to communication and social behavior, suggesting a reevaluation of existing research in this area. The findings may also lead to advancements in vibroacoustics, which could have applications in manipulating nanoparticles for various uses.
- Rodents may use ultrasonic vocalizations to enhance their sense of smell by manipulating airborne particles.
- This research challenges previous assumptions about the purpose of rodent vocalizations.
- The findings could have implications for understanding cognitive processes and developing new technologies.
- The study may lead to a reevaluation of research on human disorders related to communication and social behavior.
- Rodents are increasingly recognized as valuable subjects in biological research.
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4 commentshttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105908
"Here, we propose that ultrasonic vocalizations may affect what rodents smell by altering the deposition of inhaled particles and that rodents coordinate active sniffing with sound production specifically to enhance reception of pheromones."
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