How domestication modulates play behavior: A comparative analysis between wild rats and a laboratory strain of Rattus norvegicus.
Abstract
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 in the same way and at the same frequency as their wild counterparts. In this study, the play of juvenile rats from a colony of wild rats maintained in captivity was compared to that of a strain of domesticated rats (e.g., Long Evans hooded). Three predictions were tested. First, it was predicted that wild rats would incorporate more agonistic behavior in their play. This was not found, as in all cases, both the wild and the laboratory rats attacked and defended the nape during play, a nonagonistic body target. Second, because play is typically more frequent in domesticated animals than their wild progenitors, it was predicted that the wild rats should play less than the laboratory rats. This was found to be the case. Third, because wild animals tend to be less tolerant of proximity by conspecifics and tend to be more agile in their movements, it was predicted that there would be less contact between wild pair mates. This was found to be the case; data show that the play of laboratory rats involves the same target (i.e., the nape of the neck) and tactics of defense as those used by wild rats. However, the laboratory rats initiated playful attacks more frequently, and were more likely to use tactics that promoted bodily contact. These similarities and differences need to be considered when using laboratory animals as models for play in general.
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The "turn and face" play behavior characteristic of LE rats may provide an opportunity to quantify more nuanced social interactions.
“though the “turn and face” play behavior characteristic of LE rats may provide an opportunity to quantify more nuanced social interactions [26–33].”
From Behavioral Phenotyping of Juvenile Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Preclinical Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2016) · cites this paper as [31]
Strain-specific social behaviors have been previously reported in adolescent mice and rats.
“Strain-specific social behaviors have been previously reported in adolescent mice [62,63] and rats [31,32]”
From Behavioral Phenotyping of Juvenile Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Preclinical Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2016) · cites this paper as [31]
SD rats spent more time engaged in play behavior than LE rats, consisting of nape attacks embedded in prolonged bouts of evasive defensive maneuvers characteristic of wild type and SD rats.
“In contrast, the SD rats spent more time engaged in play behavior, consisting of nape attacks embedded in prolonged bouts of evasive defensive maneuvers characteristic of wild type and SD rats (i.e., running, leaping or pivoting away from the other rat) [31–33].”
From Behavioral Phenotyping of Juvenile Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Preclinical Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2016) · cites this paper as [31]
WWCPS rats were more eager to initiate playful attacks than Long Evans rats.
“Comparison between WWCPS and Long Evans strain showed that the former were more eager to initiate playful attacks.41,42”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Himmler, B. T., Stryjek, R., Modlinska, K., Derksen, S. M., Pisula, W., & Pellis, S. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Lethbridge (CA)
- Institute of Psychology (PL)
- Venue
- Journal of Comparative Psychology
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 127
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 453-464
- ISSN
- 0093-4127 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2087
- 0735-7036
- OpenAlex
- W2323261940
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 5.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of comparative psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Centre (UMO-2011/01/B/HS6/06442)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (40058)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Keywords
- play behavior, domestication, wild rats, laboratory rats, Rattus norvegicus, Long-Evans rats, agonistic behavior, play frequency, animal models, comparative animal behavior
- MeSH terms
- Agonistic Behavior, Animals, Animals, Domestic, Animals, Wild, Behavior, Animal, Female, Male, Play and Playthings, Social Behavior, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats
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