1. CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 OH HO The Playful Mind Play Behavior and the Neurobiology of Having Fun

2. References to “fun” in the scientific literature are few and far between

3. Is play fun? Ask any kid Rats will run a maze when the opportunity to play is the reward Rats will prefer an environment where they’ve played over an environment where they haven’t played

4. What exactly is play? Play is repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more adaptive versions structurally, contextually, or ontogenetically, and initiated voluntarily when the animal is in a relaxed or unstressed state. Burghardt (2001)

5. The many faces of play Imaginative play Symbolic play Sensorimotor play Object play Rough-and-tumble play

6. Contact directed to nape Response to nape contact Complete rotation (pin)

7. The Fun House

8. Inside the Fun House

9. Is there a neural circuit for play? Experimental approaches –Lesions –Metabolic markers –Administration of neurochemicals

10. What do we know? Cerebral cortex not that important Multiple subcortical circuits –Thalamic / Somatosensory circuit –Basal ganglia circuit –Limbic circuit

11. Thalamic – somatosensory circuitry Responsiveness to playful solicitation Specificity to stimulus type “tickling” and “laughter”

12. Thalamic – somatosensory circuitry Responsiveness to playful solicitation Specificity to stimulus type “tickling” and “laughter”

13. Basal ganglia circuitry Motor patterning Motivational component “sensitized” by lack of stimulation (boredom)

14. Basal ganglia circuitry Motor patterning Motivational component “sensitized” by lack of stimulation (boredom) Primary motor pathway

15. Limbic circuitry Evolution of mammals and the emergence of limbic system Importance of the social bond

16. Limbic circuitry Evolution of mammals and the emergence of limbic system Importance of the social bond

17. Is there a neural circuit for play? Multiple circuits Cortical development may inhibit subcortical “play circuitry”

18. Since dopamine seems to be involved in everything else, is it also involved in play? CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 OH HO

19. “Dopamine, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways”, jokes George Koob, Ph.D., from the Scripps Institute. Excitement about dopamine is now so high that the danger is not underestimating its reach, but exaggerating it: “Today’s gig is that dopamine is a kind of everyman’s neurotransmitter because it does everything. And the fact is, it doesn’t. “The Plunge of Pleasure” Psychology Today September/October 1997

20. CPu NAc SN VTA PFC Brain Dopamine Systems Nigrostriatal system Mesolimbic/Mesocortical system

21. “Tweeking” receptors with neurochemicals Agonists Antagonists Reuptake inhibitors Reverse-reuptake (release) Administer drug Observe behavior

22. Dopamine and play Psychomotor stimulants (amphetamine, methyphenidate) potently reduce play D 1 dopamine agonists and antagonists uniformly reduce play D 2 dopamine agonists reduce play –Low doses may increase play D 2 dopamine antagonists uniformly reduce play Extensive dopamine lesions alter the patterning of play

23. Breaking up play Anticipatory/Preparatory Behaviors Consummatory Behaviors

24. Stimuli predictive of reinforcer Increased release of dopamine in mesolimbic terminal regions Increased anticipatory or preparatory responding Anticipatory/Preparatory Behaviors

26. Anticipatory Response for Play Control Play 5 minutes alone play partner Dependent measure:tunnel crosses

27. Play experience yields an anticipatory response

28. Blockade of dopamine receptors with haloperidol disrupts anticipatory activity

29. Stimuli predictive of play Increased release of dopamine in mesolimbic terminal regions Anticipatory eagerness Anticipatory Behavior and Play

30. Ultrasonic vocalizations as measure of anticipatory eagerness

31. Control animals placed in chamber for 2 minutes Experimental animals placed in chamber for 2 minutes prior to a 5 minute opportunity to play Acquisition of 55 kHz vocalizations

32. Haloperidol reduces vocalizations

33. Since dopamine seems to be involved in everything else, is it also involved in play? Important for actual execution of the behavior patterns Anticipatory eagerness Mesolimbic vs. nigrostriatal involvement CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 OH HO

34. Are there genes for playfulness?

35. Use of inbred strains Known behavioral and neurobiological differences between selected strains Fischer-344 and Lewis strains Groundwork for studying genetics of play Increased understanding of disorders with genetic origins

36. Fischer-344 and Lewis strains Responsiveness to stress Fischer > Lewis Reactivity to handling and novelty Fischer > Lewis Susceptibility to inflammatory disease Lewis > Fischer Self-administration of abused drugs Lewis > Fischer Play behavior Lewis > Fischer

37. Play solicitation Playful responsiveness

38. Does isolation affect sensitivity to amphetamine? Fischer or Lewis Social vs. 1 day isolation Social vs. 3 days Isolation 60 minutes baseline Amphetamine (2 mg/kg) 90 minutes post-injection

40. Amphetamine has comparable effect after 1 day of isolation

41. 3 days of isolation results in sensitized response in Lewis rats, but not Fischer rats

42. Chronic, intermittent drug taking Chronic, intermittent bouts of play withdrawal isolation Sensitized response to amphetamine Sensitized response to amphetamine Drug-induced sensitization Isolation-induced sensitization Is there a parallel with drug use and abuse?

43. Are there genes for playfulness? Strain differences Independence of maternal influence Individual differences? Personality traits?

44. Can studying play in rats tell us anything about psychiatric conditions in human children? Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) Autism Childhood depression Anti-social behaviors and violent tendencies

45. Is this the “fountain of youth”

46. Why is it important for your child to play? When children play, they exercise their senses, their intellect, their emotions, their imagination - keenly and energetically…to play is to explore, to discover and to experiment. Playing helps children develop ideas and gain experience. It gives them a wealth of knowledge and information about the world in which they live - and about themselves. So to play is also to learn. Play is fun for children. But it’s much more than that - it’s good for them, and it’s necessary…play gives children the opportunity to develop and use the many talents they were born with.

47. Why is it important for your child to play? When children play, they exercise their senses, their intellect, their emotions, their imagination - keenly and energetically…to play is to explore, to discover and to experiment. Playing helps children develop ideas and gain experience. It gives them a wealth of knowledge and information about the world in which they live - and about themselves. So to play is also to learn. Play is fun for children. But it’s much more than that - it’s good for them, and it’s necessary…play gives children the opportunity to develop and use the many talents they were born with. Lego’s Building Set