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Does play shape hand use skill in rats?
Ian Q Whishaw1, Candace J Burke2, Sergio M Pellis3
1Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Research, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada. whishaw@uleth.ca.
Experimental Brain Research
|April 19, 2021
Summary
Rats extensively use hand movements during social play for manipulation and defense. This play behavior may educate skilled hand movements crucial for various adult functions, including feeding.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Hand use is prevalent in vertebrates for diverse adaptive behaviors like locomotion and feeding.
- The role of hand use in social behaviors, particularly during play, remains less understood across species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and describe the specific hand movements employed by rats during social play.
- To analyze the functional significance of these hand movements in social interactions and their potential role in skill development.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of social play sessions in rats.
- Detailed cataloging and categorization of distinct hand movements during play.
- Comparison of hand movement structures across different behavioral contexts (play vs. feeding).
Main Results:
- Rats exhibit a high frequency of diverse hand movements (up to 20/min/hand) during social play.
- Hand movements serve signaling, offensive manipulation, and defensive functions, tailored for partner control.
- The structure of play-related hand movements shares similarities with those used in feeding but is adapted for social interaction.
Conclusions:
- Social play is a significant context for extensive hand use in rats, potentially exceeding other activities.
- Rat social play may function as a training ground for developing skilled hand movements essential for adult tasks.
- This finding supports the multifunctional theory of play, extending it to include the acquisition of motor skills for social and adaptive behaviors.
