Despite Plato realizing the importance of play over two thousand years ago, major advances of its understanding has only emerged in the last few decades. The overall purpose of the workshop is to explore how play improves the adaptability of brain and behavior and how it can produce cultural and evolutionary variability. Talks by internationally renowned scientists will explore the many different approaches that have deepened our understanding of this enigmatic behavior. This will include cross-species comparisons, phylogenetic and mathematical modeling, developmental changes and clinical and psychological approaches. Come and play with us!

• - History and play research
• - Neurobiology of play
• - Brain evolution and play
• - Play and welfare
• - Clinical approach to play
• - Play and evolution of complex communication
• - Anthropology of play
• - Novel approaches to the study of play: modelling