biostudies-literatureUnknown16Cryns NGDispersal from the natal site or familial group is a core milestone of adolescent development in many species. A wild species of mouse, <i>Mus spicilegus</i>, presents an exciting model in which to study adolescent development and dispersal because it shows different life history trajectory depending on season of birth. <i>M. spicilegus</i> born in spring and summer on long days (LD) disperse in the first 3 months of life, while <i>M. spicilegus</i> born on shorter autumnal days (SD) delay dispersal through the wintertime. We were interested in using these mice in a laboratory context to compare age-matched mice with differential motivation to disperse. To first test if we could find a proxy for dispersal related behavior in the laboratory environment, we measured open field and novel objeFrontiers in behavioral neuroscience988033https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9672084biostudies-literatureThe maturation of exploratory behavior in adolescent <i>Mus spicilegus</i> on two photoperiods.PMC9672084Lin WCMotahari NProunis GCryns NGChen WKrentzman OJWilbrecht LfalseThe maturation of exploratory behavior in adolescent <i>Mus spicilegus</i> on two photoperiods.Dispersal from the natal site or familial group is a core milestone of adolescent development in many species. A wild species of mouse, <i>Mus spicilegus</i>, presents an exciting model in which to study adolescent development and dispersal because it shows different life history trajectory depending on season of birth. <i>M. spicilegus</i> born in spring and summer on long days (LD) disperse in the first 3 months of life, while <i>M. spicilegus</i> born on shorter autumnal days (SD) delay dispersal through the wintertime. We were interested in using these mice in a laboratory context to compare age-matched mice with differential motivation to disperse. To first test if we could find a proxy for dispersal related behavior in the laboratory environment, we measured open field and novel obje2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-25T21:03:22.6Z2025-04-06T08:33:37.486ZS-EPMC96720843640844910.3389/fnbeh.2022.988033