Rats Learn How to Drive Tiny Cars

Recently, scientists in the United States taught rats to drive tiny cars.

The cute experiment shed light on the animals' ability to learn and handle complex tasks.

The project was organized by researchers at the University of Richmond.

First, they built a small car out of a clear plastic container and wheels.

Inside the vehicle, they put in an aluminum floor and three copper bars that functioned as the car's steering wheel.

An electric current passed through the steering wheel and aluminum floor, giving the car the ability to move forward.

The rats were then trained to touch the three copper bars to change the car's direction.

The researchers placed the rats and the cars in mazes with food rewards at different places.

They observed how the animals performed in their vehicles.

It turned out that the rats were pretty good drivers when they were sufficiently motivated.

They successfully steered their vehicles through different paths in the maze.

They also adapted to new steering patterns in order to find their food reward.

What's more, learning to drive seemed to relax the rats.

The researchers measured the levels of hormones in the rats by studying their feces.

The scientists found that the rats had better ability to handle stress after they had undergone the experiments.

In order words, the rats were becoming less stressed and more resilient after mastering difficult tasks.

According to the researchers, this was similar to the satisfaction humans feel after learning a new skill.

"I believe rats are smarter than we perceive them to be," one researcher said.

 

• shed  ʃed  (…을) 보관하는 곳, (작은) 헛간 / <피·눈물 등을> 흘리다, <물·액체 등을> (샘솟듯) 솟구치게 하다, 내뿜게 하다  steer stɪr  (보트자동차 등을) 조종하다[몰다]

• shed / throw / cast light on something  (문제 등에 대해) 해결의 실마리를 던져 주다[이해를 돕는 사실을 보여주다]

• maze  meɪz  미로 (→labyrinth)   feces fí:si:z 찌끼(dregs), 똥, 배설물, 침전물  undergo ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ  (특히 변화·안 좋은 일 등을) 겪다[받다]

• In order words  즉 , 다른 말로는 resilient rɪˈzɪliənt (충격·부상 등에 대해) 회복력 있는,탄력 있는