Stress is thought to be antithetical to play. However, this thesis shows that mild stress
(e.g., social deprivation) enhances rough-and-tumble play, as opposed to other social behaviors, in adolescent rats. Social deprivation results in both higher levels of
corticosterone (a stress hormone) and higher levels of play. When non-socially deprived
rats were injected with ACTH (a precursor to corticosterone), the frequency of play was
elevated to levels comparable to that seen when juveniles were socially deprived.
Moreover, corticosterone was reduced by the opportunity to play, but not when given
social contact (but no play) or solitary exercise (i.e. a running wheel). Therefore, this thesis provides evidence that play is not only enhanced by mild stress, but that it is used by animals to reduce stress. / vi, 70 leaves ; 29 cm.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/342 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Arelis, Cheryl L., University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science |
| Contributors | Pellis, Sergio |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2006, Arts and Science, Department of Neuroscience |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) |
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