Behavioural Neuroscience
Experiences in early life, particularly play, shape the development of brain and behaviour
We are fascinated by behaviour, and particularly by (social) play behaviour. We aim to understand not only how healthy behaviours develop but also how vulnerability to, or resilience against, behavioural problems arise. Our team primarily examines the role of (social) play behaviour early in life in the development of the brain and the emergence of emotional, social, and cognitive capacities.
Play is fun, but also very important for the development of brain and behaviour in animals and humans
Using rodent models, we study the role of (risky) play in the development of cognitive control, the neurobiological mechanisms of social play behaviour, and the impact of age on the development of addictive behaviours. Moreover, in collaboration with other research groups, we also study play in children and domestic animals, such as calves. Our lab actively participates in the UU strategic theme .
Social play
Risky play
Our group members
- Committed to understanding individual variation in susceptibility to mental health problems, in order to improve welfare of animals and humans.
- Studies the neurobiology of social play and ultrasonic vocalizations in relation to social behaviour in rats.
- Expert on behavioural observations, histology and microscopy.
- Animal experimental work, always with the welfare of the animals in mind.
- Studies play during the juvenile period of rats and the impact of play on their later cognitive control and resilience to stress.
- Studies age-dependent effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brain and addictive behaviour in rats.