Behavioural Neuroscience
Experiences in early life, particularly play, shape the development of brain and behaviour
We are fascinated by behaviour, and particularly by (social) play behaviour. We aim to understand not only how healthy behaviours develop but also how vulnerability to, or resilience against, behavioural problems arise. Our team primarily examines the role of (social) play behaviour early in life in the development of the brain and the emergence of emotional, social, and cognitive capacities.
Play is fun, but also very important for the development of brain and behaviour in animals and humans
Using rodent models, we study the role of (risky) play in the development of cognitive control, the neurobiological mechanisms of social play behaviour, and the impact of age on the development of addictive behaviours. Moreover, in collaboration with other research groups, we also study play in children and domestic animals, such as calves. Our lab actively participates in the UU strategic theme 'Dynamics of Youth'.
Social play
Risky play
Our most recent publications
2025
Nyberg, H., Bogen, I. L., Nygaard, E., Achterberg, M., & Andersen, J. M. (2025). Maternal exposure to buprenorphine, but not methadone, during pregnancy reduces social play behavior across two generations of offspring. Psychopharmacology, 242(3), 663–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06718-2
Achterberg, M., Biemans, B., & Vanderschuren, L. (2025). Neurexin1α knockout in rats causes aberrant social behaviour: relevance for autism and schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology, 242(5), 1069–1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06559-z
Lozeman-van 't Klooster, J. G., & Lesscher, H. MB. (2025). Retrospective descriptive report comparing access systems to refine intravenous self-administration in rats. Laboratory Animals, 59(3), 364-368. https://doi.org/10.1177/00236772241297777
van Koppen, S., Minnaard, A. M., Smeets, J. A. S., Buzatouiu, I., Ramakers, G. M. J., Adan, R. A. H., Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., & Lesscher, H. M. B. (2025). Seeking under threat of adversity: assessing control over reward pursuit in rats. Psychopharmacology, 242(4), 803-816. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06729-z
2024
Achterberg, M., Lozeman - van t Klooster, J., Pimentel, T., Aleksic, A., Hendriks, J., Nijhof, S. L., Van Der Ent, C. K., & Lesscher, H. (2024). Effect of social play deprivation on stress sensitivity in response to social and non-social challenges. Frontiers in Ethology: Behavioral Development and Play, 3, 1-11. Article 1458136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fetho.2024.1458136
Koevoets, E. W., Lesscher, H. M. B., Veltkamp, R. C., Hoefnagels, J. W., & Nijhof, S. L. (2024). Impact of play restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being in children with a chronic condition. European Journal of Pediatrics, 184(1), Article 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05831-w
Putman, R., Babayan, S., & Lesscher, H. (2024). Environmental determinants of chronic stress in fallow deer. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70(6), Article 111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-024-01863-7
Brandt, M. J. V., Kosmeijer, C. M., Achterberg, E. J. M., de Theije, C. G. M., & Nijboer, C. H. (2024). Timed fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia cause cortical white matter injury, interneuron imbalances, and behavioral deficits in a double-hit rat model of encephalopathy of prematurity. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health, 40, Article 100817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100817
Hermans, E. C., de Theije, C. G. M., Nijboer, C. H. A., & Achterberg, E. J. M. (2024). Ultrasonic vocalization emission is altered following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 471, Article 115113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115113
Bijlsma, A., Birza, E., Pimentel, T., Maranus, J., van Gaans, M., Lozeman - van t Klooster, J., Baars, A.-M., Achterberg, M., Lesscher, H., Wierenga, C., & Vanderschuren, L. (2024). Opportunities for risk-taking during play alters cognitive performance and prefrontal inhibitory signalling in rats of both sexes. European Journal of Neuroscience, 59(10), 2748-2765. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.16313
Our group members
- Committed to understanding individual variation in susceptibility to mental health problems, in order to improve welfare of animals and humans.
- Studies the neurobiology of social play and ultrasonic vocalizations in relation to social behaviour in rats.
- Expert on behavioural observations, histology and microscopy.
- Animal experimental work, always with the welfare of the animals in mind.
- Studies play during the juvenile period of rats and the impact of play on their later cognitive control and resilience to stress.
- Studies age-dependent effects of alcohol and cannabis on the brain and addictive behaviour in rats.