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Animal play and evolution: Seven timely research issues about enigmatic phenomena
Gordon M Burghardt1, Sergio M Pellis2, Jeffrey C Schank3
1Departments of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|March 8, 2024
Summary
Animal play is crucial for behavior and psychology evolution, yet often overlooked. Further research in areas like neuroscience and phylogenetics is needed to fully understand its adaptive functions and evolutionary significance.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The nature and adaptive functions of animal play remain debated.
- Progress has been made in characterizing play across taxa and its developmental mechanisms.
- Understanding play's evolution requires integrative advances in multiple scientific disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key areas for future research on animal play.
- To highlight the underappreciated role of play in evolutionary biology and neuroscience.
- To underscore the significance of play research for understanding cognition, emotion, and culture.
Main Methods:
- Review of current empirical and theoretical evidence on animal play.
- Identification of seven timely research areas for deeper understanding.
- Synthesis of advances in neuroscience, computer modeling, phylogenetics, and behavior development.
Main Results:
- Play has been crucial in the evolution of behavior and psychology.
- Play has been underestimated in evolutionary biology and neuroscience.
- Seven specific areas requiring further research are outlined.
Conclusions:
- Play research has significant ramifications for understanding the evolution of cognition, emotion, and culture.
- Further integrative research is essential to fully grasp the enigmatic phenomenon of animal play.
- Animal play research can be both informative and transformative for scientific understanding.
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