Awani Review

Complete News World

Video.  In the United States, rats learn to drive for a science experiment

Video. In the United States, rats learn to drive for a science experiment

“It’s almost like watching pigs fly,” enthuses Professor Lambert. Launched in 2019, the trial is insane. Neuroscientists from the University of Richmond in Virginia, USA wanted to teach rats how to drive small cars. Six females and eleven males took this driving course. Training involves learning to move in new ways. “We know they have a good sense of direction on their feet. In the wild they follow the same paths over and over again.

So one of the things we wanted to see is if they have this good sense of direction in the vehicle instead of just moving around their body,” says lab specialist Olivia Harding of the University of Richmond. “There’s often a little moment where they’re sniffing and trying to figure out what’s going on. Then they put their feet on the lever. They have to push the lever and it moves the car forward. And they lead to what’s called the Chocolate Tree, where there’s breakfast cereal in straws with marshmallows. Once they come to this candy tree, they are rewarded with these grains and they eat them. »

Small vehicles were typically powered from a plastic box, powered by an electric circuit. “I had confidence in their ability. I had little confidence in our ability to design the car, install it, and teach them to do it. But once they did, it was kind of magical. Makes me laugh. We filmed it and showed it to our colleagues,” smiles Kelly Lambert.