https://www.sciencenews.org/article/playful-behavior-rats-area-brain
The results give insight into a poorly understood behavior, particularly in terms of how play is controlled in the brain. “There are prejudices that it’s childish and not important, but play is an underrated behavior,” […] Scientists think play helps animals develop resilience. Some even relate it to optimal functioning. “When you’re playing, you’re being your most creative, thoughtful, interactive self,” […] This is the opposite of depressive states […] Understanding this circuitry better may help researchers improve their knowledge of depression in people (SN: 2/12/23). “The people that really, really need help are the ones that can’t play,” […] One of the first things Brecht did after realizing its importance in rats was look at the region in humans. “And guess what? It’s very large,” he says. “That’s not a coincidence: No animal plays as many games as we do.”