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
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
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
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