These rats can drive. How does it change their brain? : Shortwave : NPR

In Kelly Lambert’s lab at the University of Richmond, rats are trained to drive tiny cars. Researchers are studying how this training and the anticipation it brings affects their brains.

University of Richmond

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University of Richmond

In Kelly Lambert’s lab at the University of Richmond, rats are trained to drive tiny cars. Researchers are studying how this training and the anticipation it brings affects their brains.

University of Richmond

In neuroscientist Kelly Lambert’s lab at the University of Richmond, rats hop into cars, rev their engines and slide across the floor of an arena. Once they maneuver their vehicles across the finish line, they’ll receive praise… and a Froot Loop reward.

Why? It turns out the answer proves the age-old adage: It’s about the journey, not the destination. That’s because the majority of lab rats seem to prefer driving to their Froot Loops rather than walking there.

“It’s amazing what their little brains can do,” says Lambert, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Richmond. “It’s humiliating.”

Today on the show, Short wave Host Regina G. Barber talks to Kelly about the drifting rats in her lab and what they tell us about anticipation, neuroplasticity and decision-making. And why optimism could be good for rats — and also for humans.

Want to hear more funny animal stories? Let us know at [email protected] — We read every email.

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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones fact-checked. Jimmy Keeley was the sound engineer.