Scientists at the University of Richmond taught mice to drive small cars, and it turned out the animals enjoyed it.
Oku.Azaccording to information provided by the University of Richmond.
The mouse “car” was a plastic container with a motor and wire pedals. Scientists have trained rodents to use it to obtain tasty food more efficiently and quickly. The animals quickly mastered the driving technique and began to show amazing driving precision.
Scientists have observed that mice in an environment enriched with toys and ample space for exercise learn faster than their counterparts in standard cages. This supported the hypothesis that a diverse environment promotes neuroplasticity by improving the brain’s ability to adapt.
According to scientists, the most surprising thing was the behavior of the animals. Some mice jumped into the car and stepped on the pedal before it started moving. According to the researchers, this shows that the driving process gives them pleasure. The experiment also showed that the mice developed positive emotions similar to joy.
In additional experiments, the scientists tested how reward expectation affects behavior. It turned out that driving mice, accustomed to delaying receiving the bait, were more optimistic, bolder in solving tasks and showed a characteristic “joy” pose with their tails raised.
