Conspecific presence facilitates 22-kHz ultrasonic calls in male rats exposed to cat odor

Rats (Rattus norvegicus) exhibit defensive behaviors such as hiding, freezing, and fleeing when confronted with predators. They often emit long-duration (~22-kHz) ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to predator detection, unlike shorter (~50-kHz) USVs associated with positive states. These vocalizations can also trigger defensive behaviors in other rats. We studied the impact of a predator-associated stimulus (cat fur) and the context in which it was experienced on ~22-kHz and ~50-kHz USVs in laboratory rats, along with how the presence of conspecifics (none, one, or two familiar rats) influenced these vocalizations. Group-housed rats were habituated to a testing arena with a hide box alone or in pairs or trios. The next day, they were exposed to cat fur (1 gram) in the arena, and defensive behaviors and USVs were recorded. Subsequently, the rats returned to the arena without cat fur to assess contextual fear. Cat fur prompted significant hiding and ~22-kHz USVs, especially in s..., These files comprise data from  90 experimentally naïve male Wistar rats (6-8 weeks).
Experimental Apparatus
The behavioral responses of these rats were tested in a cat odor avoidance apparatus consisting of a rectangular chamber (80 cm x 44 cm x 49 cm) with a smaller red Perspex “hide box” (23 cm x 15 cm x 49 cm) placed at one end. A glass Petri dish either containing the odor cue (cat fur) or empty (control) is fixed at the opposite end of the chamber using a Velcro sticker (Velcro brand, 2022 Velcro IP Holdings LLC). An ultrasonic microphone (UltraSoundGate CM16/CMPA, 2022 Avisoft Bioacoustics) and recording hardware (UltraSoundGate 416H, 2022 Avisoft Bioacoustics) were fitted to the top of the chamber on the opposite side of the hide box to record any vocalizations the animals emitted. This was accomplished using Avisoft RECORDER software (2022 Avisoft Bioacoustics). An infrared CCTV camera (Panasonic WV-CP300 Series 650 TVL Day/Night IR Dual Voltage Fixed Camera, fitted with a..., , # Conspecific presence facilitates 22-kHz ultrasonic calls in male rats exposed to cat odor

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t76hdr890](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t76hdr890)

## Description of the data and file structure

The two data files correspond to the vocalization and behavioral data over 20-minute tests (Cumulative data) and 5-minute bins (Timecourse data).

### Files and variables

#### File: Cumulative\_data.xlsx

**Description:** This file contains total vocalization and behavioral data over 20-minute tests.

##### Variables

* Sample: Categorical variable representing the experimental unit ID, i.e., Unique identifier of the Single, Pair, or Trio of rats.
* Treatment: Categorical variable representing the social \"Treatment\", i.e., 1.Singles, 2.Pairs, 3. Trios.
* Animals: Integer values from 1 to 3 that represent the number of animals composing the experimental unit. To be used as an offset to normalize the data.
* Stage: Categorical variable representing the assay day or \"S...,