Precocity, Play, and the Ectotherm-Endotherm Transition

Burghardt, Gordon M.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-5421-5_4

“…Similarly, Brown, Klaffenbock, Nevison, and Lawrence () reported that growth rates in postnatal piglets were significantly and positively associated with play behavior. Our result that indicated there was a significant relationship between the frequency of locomotor play (galloping, leaping, and turning) and growth rate is consistent with the Surplus Resource Theory on play behavior coined by Burghardt (). Although we did not examine milk availability in our study, we assume that sufficient nourishment will induce play behavior and accelerate growth in calves.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Sex, age, or genetic differences related to play behaviors in Japanese Black calves

Aierqing

¹

,

Nakagawa

²

,

Okita

³

et al. 2019

Animal Science Journal

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Play behavior in young animals has been used to evaluate the condition (health) of livestock. We investigated age, sex, and genetic differences of Japanese Black calves in relation to frequency of play behaviors (galloping, leaping, turning, bucking, head butting objects, and head shaking) and examined how these relationships might affect growth during the suckling stage. Locomotor play behaviors (galloping, leaping, turning, and bucking) and head butting objects gradually declined with the age for both sexes. The frequency of head butting was significantly higher in males than females. We found that significant interaction effects (age × MAOA polymorphism) in play behaviors (except head shaking) and the frequencies of locomotor play in calves without the wild‐type allele were significantly higher than those in younger calves (2 and 6 weeks of age). Weight gain was significantly correlated with the frequency of locomotor play in females, but not in males. This study suggests that play in Japanese Black calves gradually declines as they mature and that play may be controlled by variations in the MAOA gene. In addition, the frequency of locomotor play may be an indicator of health in female calves.

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“…Although little logical or empirical support currently exists for this theory (Burghardt, 1984(Burghardt, ,1988Smith, 1982;Smith & Hagan, 1980), Barber (1991) develops a variant of the argument. He suggests that energy is not usually in short supply for young mammals, and that play prevents obesity by ensuring that "surplus" energy is not stored as unnecessary fat.…”

Section: Exercise Playmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The vigorous dimension of exercise play may also serve an immediate function in relation to thermoregulation-the ability of individuals to regulate their body temperatures (Burghardt, 1988). According to this hypothesis, children would engage in exercise play, which expends stored caloric energy, to raise their body temperature when the ambient temperature is low (Barber, 1991).…”

Section: Exercise Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Play: The Nature and Function of a Neglected Aspect of Play

Pellegrini

¹

,

Smith

²

1998

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In this review, we consider the nature and possible developmental functions of physical activity play, defined as a playful context combined with a dimension of physical vigor. We distinguish 3 kinds of physical activity play, with consecutive age peaks: rhythmic stereotypies peaking in infancy, exercise play peaking during the preschool years, and rough-and-tumble play peaking in middle childhood. Gender differences (greater prevalence in males) characterize the latter 2 forms. Function is considered in terms of beneficial immediate and deferred consequences in physical, cognitive, and social domains. Whereas most theories assume that children's play has deferred benefits, we suggest that forms of physical activity play serve primarily immediate developmental functions. Rhythmic stereotypies in infancy are hypothesized to improve control of specific motor patterns. Exercise play is hypothesized to function primarily for strength and endurance training; less clear evidence exists for possible benefits for fat reduction and thermoregulation. In addition, there may be cognitive benefits of exercise play that we hypothesize to be largely incidental to its playful or physical nature. Rough-and-tumble play has a distinctive social component; we hypothesize that it serves primarily dominance functions; evidence for benefits to fighting skills or to emotional coding are more equivocal. Further research is indicated, given the potentially important implications for children's education, health, and development.

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“…Initial studies of physical activity play in children were theoretically framed in variants of Spencer's (1898) Surplus Energy theory, in which such play was seen as a way of dissipating energy surplus to bodily requirements. Although little logical or empirical support currently exists for this theory (Burghardt, 1984(Burghardt, ,1988Smith, 1982;Smith & Hagan, 1980), Barber (1991) develops a variant of the argument. He suggests that energy is not usually in short supply for young mammals, and that play prevents obesity by ensuring that "surplus" energy is not stored as unnecessary fat.…”

Section: Exercise Playmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Play: The Nature and Function of a Neglected Aspect of Play

Pellegrini

¹

,

Smith

²

1998

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this review, we consider the nature and possible developmental functions of physical activity play, defined as a playful context combined with a dimension of physical vigor. We distinguish 3 kinds of physical activity play, with consecutive age peaks: rhythmic stereotypies peaking in infancy, exercise play peaking during the preschool years, and rough-and-tumble play peaking in middle childhood. Gender differences (greater prevalence in males) characterize the latter 2 forms. Function is considered in terms of beneficial immediate and deferred consequences in physical, cognitive, and social domains. Whereas most theories assume that children's play has deferred benefits, we suggest that forms of physical activity play serve primarily immediate developmental functions. Rhythmic stereotypies in infancy are hypothesized to improve control of specific motor patterns. Exercise play is hypothesized to function primarily for strength and endurance training; less clear evidence exists for possible benefits for fat reduction and thermoregulation. In addition, there may be cognitive benefits of exercise play that we hypothesize to be largely incidental to its playful or physical nature. Rough-and-tumble play has a distinctive social component; we hypothesize that it serves primarily dominance functions; evidence for benefits to fighting skills or to emotional coding are more equivocal. Further research is indicated, given the potentially important implications for children's education, health, and development.

show abstract

Precocity, Play, and the Ectotherm-Endotherm Transition

Cited by 39 publications

References 118 publications

Sex, age, or genetic differences related to play behaviors in Japanese Black calves

Sex, age, or genetic differences related to play behaviors in Japanese Black calves

Physical Activity Play: The Nature and Function of a Neglected Aspect of Play

Physical Activity Play: The Nature and Function of a Neglected Aspect of Play

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