Study finds male rats prefer rougher play than female rats
A new SRUC study published in 'F1000Research' has revealed that juvenile male and female rats respond differently to tickling, with males showing a preference for rougher play.
Conducted by SRUC research fellow Dr Vincent Bombail and Professor Alistair Lawrence at the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group, the study explored how juvenile rats of both sexes responded to different styles of tickling.
Dr Bombail said: ”Our results confirm that tickling is generally rewarding for both sexes, but males seem to prefer a rougher style of play, with more vigorous stimulation. Interestingly, female rats responded more positively when pinning was minimised, suggesting a need for sex-specific refinements in handling protocols.
“This isn’t just about tickling rats, it’s about using science to refine how we interact with animals in our care. By understanding sex-specific preferences, we can design enrichment and handling practices that are truly beneficial for all animals.”
Playing with rats is a serious business, the research has important implications for refining animal welfare practices, particularly for laboratory animals, and for understanding the biology of positive affective states (animal happiness).
The team tested whether reducing the intensity of tickling, particularly the use of “pinning” (placing rats on their back and tickling their belly), and making the interaction more flexible, would reduce individual variation in emotional response.
Importantly, this finding was made possible by the publication of a Registered Report, a rigorous format that requires peer review of the study design before data collection begins. This approach enhances transparency, credibility, and reproducibility in animal research.
The study was funded by the NC3Rs (National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research), which will publish a further interview on the project as part of its drive to promote innovative welfare science.
Watch this video to find out more: Tickling Rats to Study the Biology of Happiness
The article, 'Refinement of tickling protocols in male and female juvenile rats' is available as a Stage 2 Registered Report on F1000Research. The study explored behavioural and physiological indicators of affective state, using ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) as the primary measure.
Posted by SRUC News on 06/11/2025
