ARBUR, a machine learning-based analysis system for relating behaviors and ultrasonic vocalizations of rats

Zhe Chen; Guanglu Jia; Qijie Zhou; Yulai Zhang; Zhenzhen Quan; Xuechao Chen; Toshio Fukuda; Qiang Huang; Qing Shi

iScience (Jun 2024)

ARBUR, a machine learning-based analysis system for relating behaviors and ultrasonic vocalizations of rats

Zhe Chen,
Guanglu Jia,
Qijie Zhou,
Yulai Zhang,
Zhenzhen Quan,
Xuechao Chen,
Toshio Fukuda,
Qiang Huang,
Qing Shi

Affiliations

Zhe Chen: School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
Guanglu Jia: Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Qijie Zhou: Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Yulai Zhang: School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
Zhenzhen Quan: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Xuechao Chen: Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Toshio Fukuda: Institute of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Qiang Huang: Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Qing Shi: Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 27, no. 6
p. 109998

Abstract

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Summary: Deciphering how different behaviors and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) of rats interact can yield insights into the neural basis of social interaction. However, the behavior-vocalization interplay of rats remains elusive because of the challenges of relating the two communication media in complex social contexts. Here, we propose a machine learning-based analysis system (ARBUR) that can cluster without bias both non-step (continuous) and step USVs, hierarchically detect eight types of behavior of two freely behaving rats with high accuracy, and locate the vocal rat in 3-D space. ARBUR reveals that rats communicate via distinct USVs during different behaviors. Moreover, we show that ARBUR can indicate findings that are long neglected by former manual analysis, especially regarding the non-continuous USVs during easy-to-confuse social behaviors. This work could help mechanistically understand the behavior-vocalization interplay of rats and highlights the potential of machine learning algorithms in automatic animal behavioral and acoustic analysis.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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