Meeting Abstract

P1-87  Saturday, Jan. 4  Postnatal maternal stress decreases locomotive play behaviors in Octodon degus pups SAM, A*; MALCANGI, S; LAM, C; LEóN, C; RAMíREZ-ESTRADA, J; BAUER, C; Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA ; Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA ; Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA ; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA cbauer@adelphi.edu

An activity is considered play if it is not required for an individual’s immediate survival and is repeated, spontaneous, voluntary, and rewarding. Play behavior occurs in a variety of organisms including birds, reptiles, and mammals. In this study, we observed whether maternal stress and maternal care were related with adolescent play behavior in the degu (Octodon degus), a precocial and diurnal rodent species. By observing pairs of mothers that were either unstressed (habituated to captivity) or stressed (only recently introduced into captivity), the frequencies of both social and locomotive play behaviors in the offspring, along with general behaviors and time of rest, were scored every 2 days from 2–20 days after parturition. All scored play behaviors increased in frequency over time, indicating that degu pups become more active and playful as they mature. Additionally, we also found that pups from unstressed mothers higher frequencies of locomotive play behavior (Running and Frisky Hops) compared to pups from stressed mothers. Furthermore, this behavior was significantly and positively related with the amount of maternal care received. Our results suggest that development of certain play behaviors are affected by maternal stress, likely via alterations in maternal care.