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7474766 
Journal Article 
Social play in juvenile rats: A decade of methodological and experimental research 
Thor, DH; Holloway Jr., WR 
1984 
1 
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
ISSN: 0149-7634
EISSN: 1873-7528 
8 
4 
455-464 
English 
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. © 1984. 
Anosmia; Brain lesions; Corticosterone; Dominance; Drug effects; Function of play; Gender differences; Gonadal hormones; Group observation; Isolation; Juvenile rats; Neurotransmitters; Ontogeny; Paired observation; Play and aggression; Play fighting; Play soliciting; Rough-and-tumble-play; Social play; Social stimuli; 2 chloroadenosine; amphetamine; androstanolone; apomorphine; caffeine; chlorpromazine; clonidine; corticosterone; dexamethasone; dexamphetamine; diethylstilbestrol; estradiol; fenfluramine; flutamide; haloperidol; hormone; medroxyprogesterone acetate; methylphenidate; methylscopolamine; methysergide; metirosine; morphine; naloxone; neurotransmitter; phenoxybenzamine; propranolol; quipazine; scopolamine; testosterone; age; animal experiment; anosmia; behavior; brain injury; central nervous system; drug efficacy; endocrine system; nonhuman; olfactory system; psychological aspect; rat; social aspect; social behavior; social isolation; Agonistic Behavior; Androgens; Animal; Animals, Newborn; Brain; Brain Mapping; Comparative Study; Corticosterone; Dexamethasone; Diethylstilbestrol; Female; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Olfactory Bulb; Play and Playthings; Rats; Sex Characteristics; Smell; Social Behavior; Social Isolation