5566V - Changes in Ultrasonic Vocalizations After Unilateral Cerebral Ischemia in a Rat Stroke Model

Stroke frequently results in communication impairments, yet the biological mechanisms that underlie these deficits are unclear. We sought to determine whether a unilateral MCAO (middle cerebral artery occlusion) rat stroke model provides a biologically and behaviorally relevant way to study post stroke communication deficits. Six weeks after MCAO or sham-control surgery, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded in rats using an established mating paradigm. Stroke was associated with differences in USV acoustics including more frequent use of simple calls characterized by shorter durations and restricted bandwidths. Future studies will examine muscle and neural correlates of these behavioral changes. This rat model presents an opportunity to examine the biological mechanisms that contribute to different aspects of post stroke communication deficits and rehabilitation.