How social experiences during youth influence the development of the brain
This project is currently running within the research pillar Optimal Development of the Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 strategic theme Dynamics of Youth.
Title:
How social experiences during youth influence the development of the brain.
Summary:
For children playing with friends is an essential part of growing up. We believe that play is extremely important for the development of an extensive and flexible behavioural repertoire. Negative social events during childhood can have long-term detrimental effects on social and cognitive skills in later life.
We use rats as animal models to investigate how the brain is formed by social play behaviour, both at synaptic and behavioural level. We expect our results will contribute to defining the social conditions children need to develop into independent and emotionally stable adults.
Main applicant:
(Assistant Professor in Neuropsychology, Sciences)
Co-applicant:
(Veterninary Medicine, UMC Utrecht)
Funding:
Dynamics of Youth call Seed Money 2013
Read more about the research pillar Optimal Development.