Rats can learn the complex task of navigating a rodent-operated vehicle (ROV) to a desired area, according to new research from the University of Richmond.
Crawford et al taught rats how to drive specially-designed vehicles. Image credit: Crawford et al / University of Richmond.
A team of behavioral neuroscientists led by University of Richmond’s Professor Kelly Lambert taught rats how to drive specially-designed ROVs.
The researchers made a ROV out of a plastic food container and aluminum and copper bars.
“The driver compartment of the ROV was a plastic container with an aluminum floor plate and cut out windows spanned by copper bars,” they explained.
“The ROV was designed so that the rat could move the car by touching or grabbing a bar and stop movement by releasing contact.”
The research involved five young adult male rats that had lived in an enriched environment (i.e., environment with interesting objects to interact with) for four months and six control rats raised in standard laboratory housing.
Driving training began when the animals were approximately 5 months of age.
Compared to standard-housed rats, enriched-housed rats demonstrated more robust learning in driving performance.
“We found that rats housed in a complex, enriched environment learned the driving task, but rats housed in standard laboratory cages had problems learning the task (i.e., they failed their driving test),” Professor Lambert said.
“That means the complex environment led to more behavioral flexibility and neuroplasticity.”
“Among other outcomes, the research could help scientists better understand the effects of Parkinson’s disease and depression.”
A paper describing the research was published October 16, 2019 in the journal Behavioural Brain Research.
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L.E. Crawford et al. Enriched Environment Exposure Accelerates Rodent Driving Skills. Behavioural Brain Research, published online October 16, 2019; doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112309
