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Rats Taught to Drive Tiny Cars

posted by chromas on Friday October 25 2019, @02:56AM   Printer-friendly
from the mouse-rat-and-the-motorcycle dept.

takyon writes:

Rats taught to drive tiny cars to lower their stress levels

Learning to drive small cars helps rats feel less stressed, scientists found.

Researchers at the University of Richmond in the US taught a group of 17 rats how to drive little plastic cars, in exchange for bits of cereal.

Study lead Dr Kelly Lambert said the rats felt more relaxed during the task, a finding that could help with the development of non-pharmaceutical treatments for mental illness.

The rats were not required to take a driving test at the end of the study.

Also at CNN, New Scientist, The Verge, and Boing Boing.

Enriched Environment Exposure Accelerates Rodent Driving Skills[$] (DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112309) (DX)

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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @03:13AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @03:13AM (#911483)

    Just another rat race.

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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by deimtee on Friday October 25 2019, @05:18AM (2 children)

    by deimtee (3272) on Friday October 25 2019, @05:18AM (#911513) Journal

    You joke, but there could be big money involved if they can get the rats to race.
    Much more eco-friendly than NASCAR or Formula 1, and probably more interesting really.

    --
    If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @03:38PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @03:38PM (#911661)

      nascar? go straight. turn left. turn left some more. go straight. turn left. turn left some more.

      yup, i think rats are up to the task.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @11:08PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 25 2019, @11:08PM (#911902)

        Ratcar?