Biologists taught rats to play hide and seek: what did you find out

Rats - brave laboratory animals - this time turned out to be the subject of a very interesting study. Scientists from Germany decided to check whether it is possible to teach these rodents to play some game (for example, hide and seek) and what they will experience. It turned out that this is quite possible, and the result of the experiment surprised everyone.

The researchers decided to initially abandon the use of delicious treats as an encouragement, as is done in most experiments with animals. In order to reveal the true emotions of rats and so that the animals do not have a connection between training, success in the game and treats, they decided to stimulate the rodents in a different way, for example, approving strokes or tickling.

Rats are not in vain considered one of the most intelligent animals on our planet. They quickly mastered the rules of the game, as well as two different roles of the players: the rats hid in turn and acted as those who were looking. After several rounds, scientists were convinced that rodents get real pleasure from the game. Rats were ready to play again and again, and if scientists found them, then the animals tried in every possible way to tighten the end of the game, fleeing to a new shelter or starting a humorous fight.

When the rival showed up in the next shelter, the rat emitted a specific ultrasonic signal, which could be attributed to positive emotions. In addition, it turned out that rodents in a special way react to tickling from people. They emit special laughs that can only be fixed using special equipment.

This study is primarily aimed at studying the nature of the game. The fact is that the game is present in the life of many highly developed animals, especially many cases of such behavior are recorded among mammals. And scientists have long been interested in the basics of such seemingly irrational behavior in the animal world. Most biologists believe that games perform several functions, including training in brain activity and training in practical skills that may come in handy in real life. The fact that the rats quickly mastered the rules of the game and enjoyed it suggests that this behavior is not unusual. Most likely, in the natural habitat, rodents also play hide and seek with each other, for example, in order to learn how to hide from predators.