Since 2019, research has shown that animals may perform small vehicles as well as truly enjoy the thrill of revving their motors.
Kelly Lambert, a scientist at the University of Richmond, leads this interesting research. Her team discovered that the test subjects ‘ driving motivations were amazing.
In an article for The Conversation published next week, Lambert wrote that “unexpectedly, we discovered that the rats had an intense desire for their leading training, frequently jumping into the vehicle and revving the “lever website” before their vehicle hit the road.
The research investigates animal-environment relationships, mental creation, and skill acquisition. In a Netflix documentary, this exclusive study received a lot of consideration in 2022.
According to the research, animals can clearly sense their pleasure before engaging in driving.
The three driving-trained animals jumped up when asked if they wanted to go for a walk, according to Lambert.
” Had the rats always done this and I just had n’t noticed? Did they anticipate the drive itself or were they just willing for a Froot Loop? Whatever the case, they appeared to be feeling anything positive— probably pleasure and anticipation”, she added.
Researchers speculate that the rats ‘ passion for both their good driving habits and their conditioned response to rewards.
Froot Loops were used as rewards in the study to promote good travelling. However, the animals showed involvement in driving yet without snacks.
” More than pushing buttons for quick returns, they remind us that planning, anticipating and enjoying the trip may be crucial to a healthy mind”, she wrote.
Beth Crawford, a former psychology professor at the University of Richmond, is the author of the studies idea. She later acknowledged its possible scientific application to studying rodent behavior after first rejecting it.
” It’s an exciting, sophisticated process about movement and go. It’s about moving in time and space, but never moving the body”, Lambert explained to The Collegian, the university’s student magazine, in 2020.
