How the Brain Makes Play Fun

In this article, the author describes the empirical studies that have investigated whether play (mostly social play) is rewarding. He then discusses the brain circuits and neurotransmitters that underlie the pleasurable aspects of play. He concludes that the pleasure of play has the ability to reinforce learning activities and that the brain's neurotransmitters and the brain regions that are deeply involved in motivation and pleasure also mediate the pleasures and motivations that social play produces.