Scientists from the Institute of Neurosciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona have observed, in experiments with rats, that individuals who share a litter with a higher number of siblings present less anxious behavior in adult life , are more active in adverse situations and show a behavior more inclined to explore new environments. The results, which could be extrapolated to people's behavior, have been published in the journal Physiology and Behavior .
While previous studies have shown that rats that receive more maternal care and petting have less anxiety in adulthood, this new research shows that sibling interactions also have important repercussions in adult life.
According to the authors of the study, Roser Nadal and Rosa María Escorihuela, "the first years of life are very important for the development of our nervous system and for our behavior in maturity." Although the research has been carried out with rats, a model of animal experimentation, "it is a very useful model to study the effect of early experiences on adult behavior."
