Social play in juvenile rats: A decade of methodological and experimental research
Abstract
The social play behavior of juvenile rats was originally described nearly a century ago, but research methods have only recently included the controlled laboratory investigation of psychobiological variables. This review covers the experimental literature of social play or play fighting behavior in juvenile laboratory rats reported during the last decade. Innovative measures for quantifying social play are described; hormonal, pharmacological, and neurological variables are examined; and interpretative concepts of social play are discussed. The current emphasis on measures and procedures as well as the limited scope of current research effort suggests a formative stage of research development.
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The animals from one cage were not used in the final analysis because this cage contained animals of two different ages and social play changes with age.
“The animals from one cage were not used in the final analysis because this cage contained animals of two different ages and social play changes with age [22, 23].”
From Sex-specific effects of neonatal progestin receptor antagonism on juvenile social play behavior in rats (2021) · cites this paper as [23]
In both male and female rats, the frequency of play fighting peaks between 30 and 40 days postnatally.
“In both male and female rats the frequency of play fighting peaks in occurrence between 30 and 40 days postnatally (Thor & Holloway, 1984).”
From Play fighting in androgen-insensitivetfm rats: Evidence that androgen receptors are necessary for the development of adult playful attack and defense (2006) · cites this paper as Thor & Holloway, 1984
In the juvenile period, for some features of play fighting the tfm males are the same as WT males and for some other features they more closely resemble WT females.
“Thus in the juvenile period, the age most often studied (Thor & Holloway, 1984;Vanderschueren, Niesink, & van Ree, 1997), for some features of play fighting the tfm males are the same as WT males and for some other features, they more closely resemble WT females.”
From Play fighting in androgen-insensitivetfm rats: Evidence that androgen receptors are necessary for the development of adult playful attack and defense (2006) · cites this paper as Thor & Holloway, 1984
The interaction of hormonal status and social environment is critical for some age-related changes to occur.
“it could be that the interaction of hormonal status and social environment is critical for some age-related changes to occur (Thor & Holloway, 1984).”
From Play fighting in androgen-insensitivetfm rats: Evidence that androgen receptors are necessary for the development of adult playful attack and defense (2006) · cites this paper as Thor & Holloway, 1984
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Self-citationExpression of c-fos gene activation during rough and tumble play in juvenile rats
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- Authors
- Thor, D. H., & Holloway, W. R.
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1984-12
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 455-464
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2017478664
- Cited by
- 176
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 12.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- social play, play fighting, young rats, hormones, pharmacological manipulation, psychobiology, social behavior development
- MeSH terms
- Agonistic Behavior, Androgens, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Brain, Brain Mapping, Corticosterone, Dexamethasone, Diethylstilbestrol, Female, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Olfactory Bulb, Play and Playthings, Sex Characteristics, Smell, Social Behavior, Social Isolation, Rats
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