Conditioned place preference by tickling in female rats

摘要

Introduction: It is well knowing that play is rewarding in rats because of its reinforcing proprieties. However it is ignored which of its component is the most efficient inducing reward in rats. When rats play they touch, bite and scratch the body of their partner. This particular stimulation is called tickling. Increasing evidence indicates that tickling is able to induce reward in rats.Objective: The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether tickling is able to induce conditioned place preference in female rats. Materials and methods: Juvenile (31-41 days old) female rats were used. They received 10 alternating sessions of tickling/ light touch. Rats received tickling in the not preferred compartment and light touch in the initially preferred compartment. Results: Statistical analysis detected a significant change in the time that rats spent in each compartment before and after one compartment is reinforced. Conclusions: Results suggest that tickling is rewarding by itself, and at least partially responsible of the rewarding proprieties of play in rats.