Laboratory rats have been widely used to study the development and neural underpinnings of play behavior. However, it is not known whether domestic rats play
play fighting in rats involves attack and defense of the nape. To protect the nape, rats use a variety of defensive tactics, with different strains
During playful interactions, juvenile rats emit many 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, which are associated with a positive affective state. In addition, these calls may also serve
play fighting in the rat involves attack and defense of the nape of the neck, which if contacted, is gently nuzzled with the snout. Because
During playful interactions, rats emit increased levels of 50-kHz vocalizations. It is possible that these vocalizations are used as play signals that promote and maintain
During play fighting, rats attack and defend the nape and during the course of this competitive interaction, they may adopt a configuration in which one
Juvenile play experiences promote behavioral flexibility in rats. If other early positive experiences, such as tactile stimulation, are given prior to exposure to psychostimulants, the
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by qualitative impairments in social behavior, communication, and aberrant repetitive behaviors. A major focus of animal models of
Studies using laboratory rats have yielded compelling evidence that engaging in social play with peers during the juvenile period is important for the development of
Juvenile social interactions have been shown to influence the dendritic complexity of neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In particular, social play induces pruning of
Studies on laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) have revealed that experience with social play in the juvenile period is important for the development of improved social
Juvenile play behavior in rats promotes later behavioral flexibility and appears to do so by modifying the neural systems that regulate the animal’s response to
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B) The activities that evoke playful feelings are unique to each of us.
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