Physiology & Behavior最新文献

{"title":"Effect of blast exposure on sensorimotor gating and fear memory","authors":"Melonie N. Vaughn ,&nbsp;Mark A. Geyer ,&nbsp;Susan B Powell ,&nbsp;Laurel Ng ,&nbsp;Victoria B. Risbrough ,&nbsp;Adam L. Halberstadt","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a major cause of disability amongst military service members. In addition to combat-related head injuries, military personnel are vulnerable to repetitive blast-related TBIs due to the frequent use of small explosive charges for breaching and training. However, little is known about the functional consequences or recovery after repeated blast exposure. Here, we tested the hypothesis that repeated exposure to low intensity blasts results in deficits of sensorimotor gating and memory. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to repeated blasts using a compressed gas shockwave tube. Sensorimotor gating was assessed with prepulse inhibition (PPI) across tactile, visual, and auditory modalities. PPI was tested at baseline and 1, 3, and 7 days after blast exposure to assess acute effects and recovery. To identify dose response effects, both the number of blasts (5, 10, or 15 repetitions) and the blast intensity (7.5, 15, or 25 pounds per square inch, PSI) were varied. Blast effects on memory were assessed via contextual and cued fear conditioning, and acquisition and retention of fear extinction 2-weeks post-blast. Repetitive exposure to 15–25 PSI blasts transiently disrupted PPI across multiple sensory modalities, with minimal effects on baseline startle and no effects of 7.5-PSI. The 25-PSI blast also disrupted contextual fear memory “dose” dependently with repeated blasts. These data suggest PSI levels well within scaling parameters of low-level blast exposure in humans (e.g. flashbang) can induce acute sensorimotor gating and contextual memory deficits. Future research is needed to understand the mechanisms and trajectory of these effects</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144637858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers safe for the operator’s cardiovascular health: an occupational safety issue(perspective)","authors":"Taylan Zaman ,&nbsp;Sukru Hakan Gunduz ,&nbsp;Munire Kubra Ozgok-Kangal ,&nbsp;Salim Yasar","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Noise has adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Noise occurs during the operation of hyperbaric chambers. In this study, we investigated the impact of noise generated during the operation of hyperbaric chambers on the cardiovascular systems of operators.</div></div><div><h3>Matherials-Methods</h3><div>Participants were equipped with a portable ECG device. Initially, they waited for 2 h in a quiet environment, followed by 2 h next to the hyperbaric chamber (noisy environment). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were taken at half-hour intervals using an automatic blood pressure monitor. ECGs were processed for measures of heart rate variability (HRV): the standard deviation of N<img>N intervals (SDNN), the root of the mean squared difference between adjacent normal heart beats (N<img>N) intervals (RMSSD), relative number of successive RR interval pairs that differ &gt;50 msec (pNN50). Heart rates and extra beats were recorded.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-eight participants were included in this study. There was a statistically significant increase both on sistolic and diastolic blood pressure at 60th minute of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy(HBOT) (respectively <em>p</em> = 0006, <em>p</em> = 0020). Also, sistolic blood pressures were significantly higher at the 120th minute of the HBOT(<em>p</em> = 0017). Total heart beat and SDNN values were statistically significantly decreased during noised exposure (respectively <em>p</em> = 0003, <em>p</em> = 0006).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We observed a statistically significant decrease in SDNN and a significant increase in blood pressure during exposure to hyperbaric chamber noise. The clinical relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Our study suggests that noise may have objective effects on the cardiovascular system in hyperbaric chamber operators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115028"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144637857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The disruptive effects of methylphenidate treatment on circadian rhythm in adult female zebrafish and epigenetic transmission of its negative effects to offspring","authors":"Ayşe Reyyan Kutan Başçı ,&nbsp;Ayça Arslan-Ergül","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent condition characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often leading to significant impairments in daily functioning. Numerous medications have been developed to manage ADHD, with methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin or Concerta) being the most widely used active compound. While methylphenidate (MPH) effectively improves attention, focus, and emotional regulation, its long-term use can lead to behavioral issues such as increased vigilance-stress response and anxiety, as well as physical side effects like sleep disturbances and decreased sensitivity to rewards. These side effects are more challenging to compensate for in adults compared to children, which may leave permanent effects. This study aims to investigate the long-term effects of MPH use in adult women, with a focus on its role in sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disruption, and the potential implications for pregnancy, specifically on the susceptibility of offspring to accelerated brain aging. Our hypothesis is that MPH use during pregnancy may contribute to changes in offspring telomere length and gene methylation patterns associated with brain aging, thereby increasing their vulnerability to neurodegeneration. To evaluate this, telomere length and methylation analyses were conducted on genes linked to brain aging in the second-generation offspring. Additionally, our hypothesis is that therapeutic interventions, such as melatonin for regulating sleep disturbances and oxytocin as an alternative to mitigate MPH’s side effects, may have protective effects. Zebrafish were used as the model organism in this study due to their high genetic similarity to humans and their ease of egg production, enabling multi-generational studies. As a result of this study, it was determined that neuroinflammation caused by circadian rhythm disruption and maternal stress due to MPH accumulation was reduced through melatonin &amp; MPH and oxytocin &amp; MPH combinational treatments. In the offspring of the next generation, it was observed that the telomere length inherited at birth was shorter when treated with MPH only. Also, methylation in the <em>FOXM1</em> is observed in MPH-only treatment group, and compensated with combinational treatments for melatonin and oxytocin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115027"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epigenetic regulation of miR-211 in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of female rats during diet-induced obesity and caloric restriction","authors":"Kayla Rapps ,&nbsp;Tatiana Kisliouk ,&nbsp;Asaf Marco ,&nbsp;Aron Weller ,&nbsp;Noam Meiri","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epigenetic modifications dynamically regulate gene expression in response to environmental factors. miR-211 has been implicated in hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis. This study investigates the epigenetic regulation of miR-211 in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of female Wistar rats during diet-induced obesity (DIO) and caloric restriction (CR).</div><div>Female Wistar rats were subjected to a DIO protocol followed by CR. miR-211 expression was measured in the ARC, and two epigenetic layers—histone methylation (H3K9me2 enrichment) and CpG DNA methylation—were analyzed at the miR-211 promoter. Aml1/Runx1 binding was assessed via chromatin immunoprecipitation.</div><div>DIO upregulated miR-211 expression in the ARC, while CR restored it to baseline levels. Increased H3K9me2 enrichment at the miR-211 promoter during DIO was reversed by CR. CpG methylation analysis revealed hypermethylation at the miR-211 promoter, particularly at -78 CpG, during DIO, which partially reverted after CR. Hyper­methylation in DIO was associated with reduced Aml1/Runx1 binding, suggesting a loss of transcriptional repression. Blood samples showed a similar CpG methylation pattern, indicating potential biomarker applications.</div><div>In conclusion, miR-211 expression in the ARC is regulated by histone and DNA methylation in response to metabolic status. The reversal of these epigenetic changes by CR highlights the potential of lifestyle interventions to mitigate obesity-induced molecular alterations. These findings provide insights into miR-211′s role in hypothalamic dysregulation and its potential as a therapeutic target for obesity management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144609166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Glial adaptations to high-fat diet in the mediobasal hypothalamus and effects on metabolic control","authors":"Keila Navarro I Batista ,&nbsp;Anaïs Bouchat ,&nbsp;Christelle Le Foll","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obesity represents a global health issue and major socioeconomic burden. As a multifactorial disease, obesity is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, with maladaptive eating habits and high-fat, high-sugar diets (HFD, HFHS) overconsumption being major contributors. While traditionally studied in the context of adipose tissue and peripheral metabolism, the brain is at the centre of this pathology. In the central nervous system, circulating free fatty acids (FAs) are taken up directly, while brain lipoprotein lipases break down triglyceride-rich particles, providing an additional source of fatty acids. Growing evidence supports the idea that both neuronal and glial cells in the hypothalamus undergo significant changes in response to increased HFD consumption. These alterations may play a key role in the wide range of dysfunctions associated with obesity. The review at hand explores how FAs are utilised by the brain and how excessive intake of FAs during HFD feeding impacts glial cell function. We focus on glial cells within the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH), one of the key brain subregions regulating energy balance. Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, are activated by HFD exposure, leading to morphological changes and inflammation in the hypothalamus, which likely contributes to neuronal dysfunction. Microglial depletion in the MBH can significantly limit HFD-induced metabolic alterations by reducing food intake, weight gain and brain inflammation. Astrocytes respond to HFD intake by utilising its nutrients for energy production. Unlike neurons, astrocytes actively perform β-oxidation and ketogenesis, which influence feeding behaviour. HFD-induced ketone production by hypothalamic astrocytes has been shown to acutely trigger an anorectic response in rats. Like microglia, they also undergo significant morphological changes and increase cytokine release in response to HFD, leading to altered synaptic and neurotransmitter regulation, which may in turn impair hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis. This review highlights the critical role of glial cells in mediating the effects of dietary FAs on brain function, emphasising their contribution to obesity-related neuroinflammation, hypothalamic dysfunction and energy balance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115017"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144601344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spermidine improves memory consolidation in a contextual fear conditioning task in adult zebrafish","authors":"Cristiano Hoch ,&nbsp;Cássio M. Resmim ,&nbsp;João V. Borba ,&nbsp;Julia Canzian ,&nbsp;Barbara D. Fontana ,&nbsp;Maribel A. Rubin ,&nbsp;Denis B. Rosemberg","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Memory is essential for survival, depending on the activation of neurotransmitter signaling pathways, such as the glutamatergic system. Polyamines are endogenous amines that can be released from presynaptic neurons and stimulate glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Although polyamines are known to influence cognitive processes, the potential modulatory role of spermidine (SPD) in memory consolidation of zebrafish has never been explored yet. Here, we aimed to evaluate the influence of SPD on memory consolidation of adult zebrafish using a contextual fear conditioning protocol. On day 1, fish were conditioned to an aversive naturalistic stimulus (conspecific alarm substance - CAS) as unconditioned stimulus (US) or exposed to dechlorinated water (control) in a tank with visual cues (conditioned stimulus, CS) for 5 min. Immediately after the training session, fish were randomly selected from each group and divided into different subgroups. A set of animals was intraperitoneally injected with saline (SAL) or SPD (1 or 10 mg/kg), while another cohort of non-injected fish was tested to analyze the exacerbation of CS-CAS responses 24 h later. On day 2 (test session), animals were reintroduced into the same contextual CS filled with dechlorinated water. We found that the US used elicited a robust fear recall on the test session, while SPD alone did not affect zebrafish behaviors. Conversely, 10 mg/kg SPD facilitated memory consolidation by increasing CAS-induced fear conditioning responses, without affecting locomotion. Overall, our findings support that SPD increases fear conditioning responses in zebrafish, suggesting a conserved role of polyamines in learning and memory processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144584645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining factors affecting daily salt intake in adults based on the health action process approach model","authors":"Sumbule Koksoy Vayisoglu,&nbsp;Emine Oncu","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High salt consumption is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death, and daily salt consumption in the world is above the World Health Organization's recommendation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the 'Daily Salt Consumption Control Scale' and the 'Salt Consumption Control Self-Efficacy Scale,' and to determine the factors affecting daily salt consumption based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model using structural equation modeling. This study is a cross-sectional, methodological and correlational study. Data were collected from 300 adults for the validity and reliability analyses, during January 2023 and 305 adults for HAPA model testing at two separate times between March and April 2023. Descriptive statistics, validity and reliability analyses, and Structural Equation Modeling were used to analyze the data. Both scales demonstrated satisfactory model fit indices in confirmatory factor analyses. Risk perception, action and coping planning, and coping self-efficacy, had a direct effect on action control related to daily salt consumption, while negative and positive outcome expectancies, action self-efficacy, intention, and recovery self-efficacy had an indirect effect. The total variance in action control explained by the variables was 36.4 %. Both scales are valid and reliable measurement tools. The HAPA model effectively explains action control related to daily salt consumption. Clinicians may consider enhancing self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and risk perception to support efforts aimed at reducing salt consumption. These findings suggest that the HAPA model and the validated scales can be effectively used to guide behavioral interventions aimed at reducing daily salt consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115016"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144584644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LEAP2: from feeding regulation to its implications in eating disorders","authors":"Francesca Mariuz ,&nbsp;Tatiana Landré ,&nbsp;Chloé Tezenas du Montcel ,&nbsp;Alexandre Benani ,&nbsp;Thierry Bienvenu ,&nbsp;Virginie Tolle","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Almost twenty years after the discovery of ghrelin, a potent Growth Hormone Secretagogue (GHS) and orexigenic peptide synthesized in the stomach and acting on its cognate receptor, the GHSR, LEAP2 (Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2), produced mainly in the liver and small intestine, was identified as an endogenous ghrelin antagonist. This article reviews the initial characterization of LEAP2 as an antimicrobial peptide and its role in opposing ghrelin’s actions on food intake, GH secretion, hedonic feeding and energy homeostasis. We also describe the long-term regulation of ghrelin and LEAP2 by positive and negative energy balance, and their short-term regulation by meals and nutrient intake. We then discuss the effect of LEAP2 variants on the concentration and function of LEAP2 and their possible associations with altered eating behaviors. Finally, the potential implications of LEAP2 in obesity or pathologies associated with abnormal feeding behavior such as anorexia nervosa are also highlighted. Due to their opposite actions on food intake, energy homeostasis, glucose homeostasis, hedonic feeding and reward, ghrelin and LEAP2 represent key pharmacological targets for disorders impacting energy homeostasis and eating. These discoveries open up new perspectives for the understanding of the mechanisms that regulate eating behaviors and more broadly energy balance, relayed by the GHSR, in physiological and pathological conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144576118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A systematic review of hormonal changes, their effects on, and associations with, cognitive performance within defence and security personnel","authors":"Callum A. O’Malley ,&nbsp;Samuel J. Vine ,&nbsp;Tom Arthur ,&nbsp;G.J. Melendez-Torres ,&nbsp;Gabriella L. Mitchell ,&nbsp;David J. Harris","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Operational success in defence and security (D&amp;S) often depends on personnels’ cognitive capabilities, which are likely influenced by endocrine fluctuations. Several investigations into the effect of hormonal manipulations on cognitive task performance exist, therefore, we undertook a systematic review to identify and assess the associations between hormones and cognitive performance. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and PsycNET in January 2024 for controlled interventions of hormones involving D&amp;S participants. Each study featured at least one of six hormones (testosterone, oestrogen, cortisol, oxytocin, growth hormone, melatonin). Article screening was conducted independently and in duplicate according to preregistered inclusion/exclusion criteria. Assessing study and participant details, prioritisation grids helped to identify existing hormone-performance measures and highlight any gaps. Study quality appraisals and a narrative synthesis of findings concerning hormonal impacts on cognitive performance were also completed. Twenty articles from North American and Western European research groups met the inclusion criteria. Cortisol and testosterone were investigated the most, whereas oestrogen, oxytocin, growth hormone, and melatonin were less studied within D&amp;S populations. Studies involved a greater proportion of male personnel across land, air, and sea domains. Generally, hormonal concentrations deviating from “normal” levels appeared to predispose psychophysiological states that prompt poorer cognitive performance. However, most studies were appraised as low-moderate in quality as studies were suffused with methodological concerns including high participant attrition rates, a widespread lack of blinding, randomisation, or a-priori sample size calculations. Consequently, for researchers to deduce any meaningful understanding of hormone-performance relationships within D&amp;S contexts, future research must develop the existing evidence base.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144576117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-life vocalizations and adult auditory brainstem responses in California mice (Peromyscus californicus)","authors":"April M. Arquilla ,&nbsp;Jamiela Kokash ,&nbsp;Jeffrey A. Rumschlag ,&nbsp;Kerianne M. Wilson ,&nbsp;Khaleel A. Razak ,&nbsp;Wendy Saltzman","doi":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mammalian infants rely on vocalizations to elicit care from their parents. In adult females, behavioral and neural responses to infant cries may change during the onset of motherhood; however, parenthood-associated plasticity in auditory processing is not well understood, especially in fathers. We characterized pup vocalizations from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 21 in biparental California mice (<em>Peromyscus californicus</em>) and assessed auditory brainstem responses to pure tones in adult virgins and parents of both sexes to test the hypothesis that auditory processing changes with the onset of parenthood, particularly in response to pup-relevant sound frequencies. Pups’ call rate dropped sharply after PND 13, and pups from smaller litters vocalized more than pups from larger litters. Syllable duration was significantly shorter at PND 16–21 than all other ages. Overall, the minimum frequency of vocalizations and minimum, fundamental, and harmonic frequency power increased with age. Minimum frequency was highest after PND 10, and power for all frequencies peaked at PND 13–15. Hearing thresholds for 24 kHz stimuli were lower in parents than in virgins regardless of sex, and thresholds for 4 kHz were lower in females than in males. Auditory nerve response latencies were shorter in parents than in virgins at 4 kHz and shorter in females than in males at 8 kHz. In sum, our findings provide a spectral breakdown of early-life vocalizations and provide evidence that auditory processing can be influenced by reproductive status in both males and females in a biparental species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20201,"journal":{"name":"Physiology & Behavior","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 115011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144565044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}