Scientists taught rats to drive – now they love getting behind the wheel
By Andy Gregory
Scientists have taught rats to drive tiny cars, but what’s even more surprising is how much the rats enjoy it. In exchange for Froot Loops, these rodents quickly mastered steering and showed excitement about driving. Researchers found that rats raised in enriched environments learned faster, and the driving activity seemed to trigger positive emotions in them—similar to anticipation and joy. Some even skipped a quicker path to the reward just to enjoy the journey in their tiny cars.
By studying this behaviour, researchers uncovered how anticipation of positive experiences can rewire the brain for optimism and better problem-solving. One striking observation involved “Straub tail,” a phenomenon linked to dopamine, where rats raised to expect rewards held their tails high in excitement. This unique study not only highlights how rats thrive on the journey, not just the reward, but also suggests that humans could learn from their approach to finding joy in anticipation and planning.