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Cited by 10Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPrimate Behavior and EcologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

How strain differences could help decipher the neurobiology of mammalian playfulness: what the less playful Fischer 344 rat can tell us about play

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Siviy, Stephen M.·2020·International Journal of Play
DOI 10.1080/21594937.2020.1721024PMC PMC7954129
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Abstract

Play is common among the young of many mammalian species. How that play is exhibited results from a dynamic interplay between genetic framework and experiential influences that, in turn, operate on hard-wired brain systems. One approach towards understanding how genes and environment interact with brain substrates to yield a particular playful phenotype is to take advantage of inbred strains of rats that come with a known genetic identity and assess the effects of varying early social experiences and targeted neurobiological interventions on rats of these strains. This paper primarily summarizes research utilizing the F344 inbred strain, a rat that consistently plays less than most other strains.

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Crossref · 10.1080/21594937.2020.1721024

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  • There is strong evidence that the difference in launching nape attacks is linked to differences in mesolimbic dopamine activity.

    “There is strong evidence that the difference in launching nape attacks is linked to differences in mesolimbic dopamine activity (Vanderschuren et al., 2016; Siviy, 2020).”

    From The rough-and-tumble play of rats as a natural behavior suitable for studying the social brain (2022) · cites this paper as Siviy, 2020

    In “The use of Fischer 344 rats in play research” (page unavailable), the paper reports strain differences in nape contacts. In “Using strain differences to study the underlying neurobiological substrates of play” (page unavailable), it reports dopamine-related differences and evidence that nucleus accumbens dopamine modulates play, but says it remains unclear whether impaired striatal dopamine function accounts for the F344 rats’ lower playfulness. It therefore does not support the claim of strong evidence linking the difference in launching nape attacks specifically to mesolimbic dopamine activity. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Sex and strain differences in play have provided valuable tools for identifying the roles of specific neural systems and networks in regulating particular aspects of play.

    “These differences have provided valuable tools for using sex and strain differences to identify the roles of specific neural systems and neural networks in regulating particular aspects of play (Siviy, 2020; VanRyzin et al., 2020).”

    From The rough-and-tumble play of rats as a natural behavior suitable for studying the social brain (2022) · cites this paper as Siviy, 2020

    The section “Using strain differences to study the underlying neurobiological substrates of play” describes using behavioral differences between rat strains to investigate neural systems involved in play. The passages from our copy do not establish the same use of sex differences, so Siviy (2020) supports the strain component but not the full claim. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 65

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Authors
Siviy, S. M.
Affiliations
Gettysburg College (US)
Corresponding author
Siviy, Stephen M.
ORCID
Siviy, Stephen M.
Venue
International Journal of Play
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-01-02
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
9-24
ISSN
  • 2159-4937 (ISSN-L)
  • 2159-4953
DOI
10.1080/21594937.2020.1721024
PMC
PMC7954129
OpenAlex
W3006206774
Cited by
10
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3
FWCI
1.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Play (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R15MH100585)
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
play behavior, F344 rats, inbred rat strains, strain differences, gene-environment interaction, early social experience

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