Post-natal maternal stress decreases locomotor play behaviors in Octodon degus pups

Play behaviors are generally considered to be beneficial and necessary for young, developing animals. Expression of play, however, is sensitive to several post-natal factors including maternal care. In this study, we observed whether maternal stress and maternal care behaviors were related with adolescent play behavior in the degu (Octodon degus), a diurnal rodent species native to central Chile. By observing pairs of mothers that were either...