Fancy a Game of Hide and Squeak? Rats Love to Play, Scientists Find
By News
Published 4 years ago on
December 5, 2019
Share
[aggregation-styles]
CNN
CNN
Rats can be taught to play hide and seek — and they squeal with joy when they win, scientists have found.
Both wild and domesticated animals have been known to play, but neuroscientists from Berlin’s Humboldt University wanted to know more about the topic after hearing from pet owners and vets that rats seemed to be engaging in more complex forms of play.
“It has long been known that rats engage in simple forms of play — rough and tumble — but we wanted to know if they could do more complex games, like hide and seek,” neurobiologist Michael Brecht, an author of the study, published in the journal Science, told CNN.
Both wild and domesticated animals have been known to play, but neuroscientists from Berlin’s Humboldt University wanted to know more about the topic after hearing from pet owners and vets that rats seemed to be engaging in more complex forms of play.
“It has long been known that rats engage in simple forms of play — rough and tumble — but we wanted to know if they could do more complex games, like hide and seek,” neurobiologist Michael Brecht, an author of the study, published in the journal Science, told CNN.
By Amy Woodyatt | 13 Sept 2019
RELATED TOPICS:
Oklahoma Towns Hard Hit by Tornadoes Begin Long Cleanup After 4 Killed in Weekend Storms
Weather /
21 hours ago
United Auto Workers Reaches Deal With Daimler Truck, Averting Potential Strike in North Carolina
Business /
21 hours ago
Putin Likely Didn’t Order Death of Russian Opposition Leader Navalny, US Official Says
Politics /
22 hours ago
Tesla’s Stock Leaps on Reports of Chinese Approval for the Company’s Driving Software
NEW YORK — Shares of Tesla stock rallied Monday after the electric vehicle maker’s CEO, Elon Musk, paid a surprise visit to Beijing ov...
Economy /
17 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Economy /
17 hours ago
Tesla’s Stock Leaps on Reports of Chinese Approval for the Company’s Driving Software
Crime /
17 hours ago
3 Law Officers Killed, 5 Others Wounded Trying to Serve Warrant in North Carolina, Authorities Say
Weather /
21 hours ago