Socially-induced brain 'fertilization': play promotes brain derived neurotrophic factor transcription in the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal cortex in juvenile rats. Neurosci Lett 2003 Apr 24;341(1):17-20
Date
04/05/2003Pubmed ID
12676333DOI
10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00158-7Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0345700231 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 80 CitationsAbstract
Rough and tumble (R&T) play is assumed to have beneficial effects in developing organisms. To evaluate this idea, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression was evaluated in 32-day-old juvenile rats that were allowed to play for 30 min prior to sacrifice. In situ hybridization for BDNF mRNA revealed that the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal cortex had significantly elevated BDNF mRNA expression as a result of play. These effects suggest that play may help program higher brain regions involved in emotional behaviors.
Author List
Gordon NS, Burke S, Akil H, Watson SJ, Panksepp JAuthor
Nakia Gordon BS,MA,PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at Marquette UniversityMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Age FactorsAmygdala
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Frontal Lobe
Gene Expression Regulation
Male
Play and Playthings
RNA, Messenger
Rats
Rats, Long-Evans
Social Behavior
