Citation

Siviy SM. Am. J. Play 2010; 2(3): 297-314.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, The Strong - National Museum of Play, Publisher University of Illinois Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Most mammals play, but they do so in a dangerous world. The dynamic relationship between the stresses created by their world and the activity of play helps to explain the evolution of play in mammals, as the author demonstrates in evidence garnered from experiments that introduce elements of fear to rats at play. The author describes the resulting fearful behavior and quantifies the fluctuation in play that results, and then he investigates how these are modified by increased maternal care or the use of benzodiazepines. In conclusion, he discusses how such research can help shed light on the neurobiology underlying human anxiety disorders, especially in children.

© 2010 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Language: en