Publications
2026
Scholarly publications
Alhama-Riba, J., de Theije, C. G. M., Salvi, V., Viveen, D., Corstjens, S. W. T., Achterberg, M., Looij, Y. V. D., Hoebeek, F., & Nijboer, C. H. A. (2026). Characterization of postnatal brain injury and behavioural deficits in a rat model of placental insufficiency-induced fetal growth restriction. Journal of Physiology. Advance online publication. [DOI]
Professional publications
Achterberg, M. (2026). Spelende ratten: leuk, leerzaam en het belang van communicatie tussen dieren. Biotechniek, 65(1), 9-13.
2025
Scholarly publications
2024
Scholarly publications
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, 3, 1-11. Article 1458136. [DOI] [Portal]
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. [DOI] [Portal]
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. [DOI] [Repository]
2023
Scholarly publications
Achterberg, E. J. M., Burke, C. J., & Pellis, S. M. (2023). When the individual comes into play: The role of self and the partner in the dyadic play fighting of rats. Behavioural Processes, 212, 1-12. Article 104933. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2023). The neurobiology of social play behaviour: Past, present and future. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 152, Article 105319. [DOI] [Repository]
2022
Scholarly publications
Pellis, S., Pellis, V., Ham, J., & Achterberg, M. (2022). The rough-and-tumble play of rats as a natural behavior suitable for studying the social brain. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16, 1-5. Article 1033999. [DOI] [Repository]
Burke, C., Pellis, S., & Achterberg, M. (2022). Who's laughing? Play, tickling and ultrasonic vocalizations in rats. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 377(1863), 1-9. Article 20210184. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., van Oldeniel, R. J., van Tilborg, E., Verharen, J. P. H., Nijboer, C. H., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2022). Cognitive performance during adulthood in a rat model of neonatal diffuse white matter injury. Psychopharmacology, 239(3), 745-764. [DOI] [Repository]
Pellis, S., Pellis, V., Burke, C., Stark, R., Ham, J., Euston, D., & Achterberg, M. (2022). Measuring play fighting in rats: A multilayered approach. Current Protocols, 2(1), 1-28. Article e337. [DOI]
2021
Scholarly publications
Achterberg, M., & Baars, A. (2021). Een kijkje in het brein van spelende ratten. Abstract from Biotechnische dagen 2021.
Pimentel, T., Achterberg, M., Lozeman - van t Klooster, J., Baars, A., Kirchhoff, S., Vanderschuren, L., & Lesscher, H. (2021). Don’t stress play time! On the interaction of social play and glucocorticoids. Poster session presented at Dutch Neuroscience Meeting. [Portal]
Burke, C., Pellis, S., Vanderschuren, L., & Achterberg, M. (2021). Individual differences in social play behaviour in rats: behavioural microstructure and communication. In Dutch Neuroscience Meeting 2021
Burke, C., Pellis, S., Vanderschuren, L., & Achterberg, M. (2021). Individual differences in social play behaviour in rats: behavioural microstructure and communication. In EBPS 2021
Burke, C., Pellis, S., Vanderschuren, L., & Achterberg, M. (2021). Individual differences in social play behaviour in rats: behavioural microstructure and communication. In Global Connectome 2021
Vanderschuren, L., & Achterberg, M. (2021). Social Play Behavior. In S. Della Sala (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience (2 ed., pp. 85-92). Elsevier. [DOI]
Lesscher, H. M. B., Achterberg, E. J. M., Siviy, S. M., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2021). Individual differences in social play behaviour predict alcohol intake and control over alcohol seeking in rats. Psychopharmacology, 238(11), 3119-3130. [DOI] [Repository]
2020
Scholarly publications
Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., & Achterberg, E. J. M. (2020). Social Play Behavior. In Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology (Elsevier Reference Collection in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology). Elsevier. [DOI]
Achterberg, E. J. M., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2020). Treatment with low doses of nicotine but not alcohol affects social play reward in rats. International Journal of Play, 9, 39-57. [DOI] [Repository]
2019
Scholarly publications
Menon, J. M. L., Nolten, C., Achterberg, E. J. M., Joosten, R. N. J. M. A., Dematteis, M., Feenstra, M. G. P., Drinkenburg, W. H., & Leenaars, C. H. C. (2019). Brain Microdialysate Monoamines in Relation to Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Sleep Deprivation – a Systematic Review, Network Meta-analysis, and New Primary Data. Journal of Circadian Rhythms, 17(1), 1-32. Article 1. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., van Swieten, M. M. H., Houwing, D. J., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2019). Opioid modulation of social play reward in juvenile rats. Neuropharmacology, 159, Article 107332. [DOI] [Repository]
2018
Scholarly publications
Nijhof, S. L., Vinkers, C. H., van Geelen, S. M., Duijff, S. N., Achterberg, E. J. M., der Net, J. V., Veltkamp, R. C., Grootenhuis, M. A., de Putte, E. M. V., Hillegers, M. H. J., der Brug, A. W. V., Wierenga, C. J., Benders, M. J. N. L., Engels, R. C. M. E., der Ent, C. K. V., Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., & Lesscher, H. M. B. (2018). Healthy play, better coping: The importance of play for the development of children in health and disease. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 95, 421-429. [DOI] [Repository]
Kentrop, J., Smid, C., Achterberg, E. J. M., van Ijzerdoorn, M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M., Joels, M., & van der Veen, R. (2018). Effects of Maternal Deprivation and Complex Housing on Rat Social Behavior in Adolescence and Adulthood. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12, 1-15. Article 193. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., Damsteegt, R., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2018). On the central noradrenergic mechanism underlying the social play-suppressant effect of methylphenidate in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 347, 158-166. [DOI] [Repository]
van Tilborg, E., Achterberg, E. J. M., van Kammen, C. M., van der Toorn, A., Groenendaal, F., Dijkhuizen, R. M., Heijnen, C. J., Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., Benders, M. N. J. L., & Nijboer, C. H. A. (2018). Combined fetal inflammation and postnatal hypoxia causes myelin deficits and autism-like behavior in a rat model of diffuse white matter injury. GLIA, 66(1), 78-93. [DOI] [Repository]
2016
Scholarly publications
Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., Achterberg, E. J. M., & Trezza, V. (2016). The neurobiology of social play and its rewarding value in rats. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 70, 86-105. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., van Swieten, M. M. H., Driel, N. V., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2016). Dissociating the role of endocannabinoids in the pleasurable and motivational properties of social play behaviour in rats. Pharmacological Research, 110, 151-158. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., van Kerkhof, L. W. M., Servadio, M., van Swieten, M., Houwing, D. J., Aalderink, M., Driel, N. V., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2016). Contrasting Roles of Dopamine and Noradrenaline in the Motivational Properties of Social Play Behavior in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(3), 858-868. [DOI] [Repository]
2015
Scholarly publications
Achterberg, M., Van Kerkhof, L. W. M., Servadio, M., Van Swieten, M. M. H., Houwing, D. H., Aalderink, M., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2015). Measuring motivation and performance of social play behavior in rats: Role of dopamine and noradrenaline. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 25(pp S29-S30), March. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., van Kerkhof, L. W. M., Damsteegt, R., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2015). Methylphenidate and atomoxetine inhibit social play behavior through prefrontal and subcortical limbic mechanisms in rats. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(1), 161-169. [DOI] [Repository]
2014
Scholarly publications
Achterberg, E. J. M., Trezza, V., Siviy, S. M., Schrama, L. H., Schoffelmeer, A. N., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2014). Amphetamine and cocaine suppress social play behavior in rats through distinct mechanisms. Psychopharmacology, 231(8), 1503-1515. [DOI] [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M. (2014). On the pleasurable, motivational and cognitive aspects of social play behavior: pharmacological studies in rats. [Doctoral thesis 1 (Research UU / Graduation UU), Utrecht University]. Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Universiteit Utrecht. [Repository]
Achterberg, E. J. M., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2014). Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism disrupts the reconsolidation of social reward-related memories in rats. Behavioural Pharmacology, 25(3), 216-225. [DOI] [Repository]
2012
Scholarly publications
Achterberg, E. J. M., Trezza, V., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2012). β-Adrenoreceptor stimulation mediates reconsolidation of social reward-related memories. PLoS One, 7, e39639. Article e39639. [DOI] [Repository]
Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., Achterberg, E. J. M., Baarendse, P. J. J., Damsteegt, R., van Kerkhof, L. W. M., & Trezza, V. (2012). Studying the neurobehavioral mechanisms of social behavior in adolescent rats. In A. J. Spink, F. Grieco, O. E. Krips, L. W. S. Loijens, L. P. J. J. Noldus, & P. H. Zimmerman (Eds.), Proceedings of Measuring Behavior 2012 (pp. 135-137) [Repository]
2011
Scholarly publications
Trezza, V., Damsteegt, R., Achterberg, E. J. M., & Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J. (2011). Nucleus Accumbens Mu-Opioid Receptors Mediate Social Reward. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(17), 6362-6370. [DOI] [Repository]