title: Play and energy regulation in mammals.
abstract: Analysis of ecological constraints on juvenile mammals suggests that energy expended in play behavior does not reduce fitness, but actually increases it. When viewed as a promoter of adaptive energy loss, play can be considered an antipredator strategy. In addition, it may balance a low-protein diet in favor of growth, as well as increase resistance to pathogens and to cold exposure. These short-term benefits result from activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which is hypothesized to occur during play. SNS activation increases heat production in brown adipose tissue. The energy-regulation approach generates many predictions that are supported in the literature, and others that can be empirically tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bemidji State University, Minnesota 56601.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000502:physiology; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D010988:Play and Playthings; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology