A group of rodents have mastered vehicle operation with enthusiasm, offering insights into neural principles guiding everyday behavior. Research has shown that desirable low-stress environments retune the brains’ reward circuits, and anticipating positive experiences helps drive persistence in searching for life’s rewards.
A Neuroscientist’s Journey into the World of Positive Emotions in Animals
Introduction
In a world where immediate gratification is often prioritized, it’s refreshing to see animals like rats exhibiting enthusiasm for activities that bring them joy. The story of driving rats has gone viral, and as neuroscientists, we’re fascinated by their ability to acquire new skills and experience positive emotions.
The Tale of Rat Tails
When rats are trained to anticipate positive experiences, they exhibit a unique behavior – holding their tails high with a crook at the end. This is reminiscent of the Straub tail, typically seen in rats given morphine. The connection between dopamine and this behavior suggests that natural forms of opiates and dopamine play a role in rat emotional expression.
Rat Lessons on Enjoying the Journey
Research has shown that desirable low-stress environments retune the brains’ reward circuits in rats. This is reflected in the expansion of the nucleus accumbens area responsible for appetitive experiences. Conversely, stressful contexts lead to the expansion of fear-generating zones. The brain can be seen as a piano that the environment can tune.
The New Destination of Joy
The driving rats project has opened new and unexpected doors in my behavioral neuroscience research lab. While it’s vital to study negative emotions such as fear and stress, positive experiences also shape the brain in significant ways.
Wait for It
Working with postdoctoral fellow Kitty Hartvigsen, I designed a new protocol that used waiting periods to ramp up anticipation before a positive event. Bringing Pavlovian conditioning into the mix, rats had to wait 15 minutes after a Lego block was placed in their cage before they received a Froot Loop.
The Driving Rats Project
Conclusion
These rats offer insights into the neural principles guiding everyday behavior. Rather than pushing buttons for instant rewards, they remind us that planning, anticipating, and enjoying the ride may be key to a healthy brain. That’s a lesson my lab rats have taught me well.
Introduction
The Science Behind Driving Rats
Driving represented an interesting way to study how rodents acquire new skills. As expected, rats housed in enriched environments—complete with toys, space, and companions—learned to drive faster than those in standard cages. This finding supported the idea that complex environments enhance neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to change across the lifespan in response to environmental demands.
Rat Lessons on Enjoying the Journey
We’re not the only team investigating positive emotions in animals. Research has also shown that desirable low-stress rat environments retune their brains’ reward circuits, such as the nucleus accumbens. When animals are housed in their favored environments, the area of the nucleus accumbens that responds to appetitive experiences expands.
The New Destination of Joy
Concepts from introductory psychology textbooks took on a new, hands-on dimension in our rodent driving laboratory. Building on foundational learning approaches such as operant conditioning, which reinforces targeted behavior through strategic incentives, we trained the rats step-by-step in their driver’s ed programs.
Working with postdoctoral fellow Kitty Hartvigsen, we designed a protocol using waiting periods to ramp up anticipation before a positive event. Rats had to wait 15 minutes after a Lego block was placed in their cage before receiving a Froot Loop. This became our “Wait for It” experiment, bringing Pavlovian conditioning into the mix.
The driving rats project has opened new doors in our behavioral neuroscience research lab. While studying negative emotions like fear and stress is crucial, positive experiences also shape the brain significantly. Anticipating positive experiences helps drive persistence in searching for life’s rewards.
Wait for It
Conclusion
The driving rats project has taught us valuable lessons about the neural principles guiding everyday behavior. Rather than pushing buttons for instant rewards, these rats remind us that planning, anticipating, and enjoying the ride may be key to a healthy brain. As animals navigate life’s unpredictability, anticipating positive experiences helps drive persistence in searching for life’s rewards.
References
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Jaak Panksepp famously tickled rats, demonstrating their capacity for joy.
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Research has shown that desirable low-stress environments retune the brains’ reward circuits in rats.
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The brain can be seen as a piano that the environment can tune.
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Anticipating positive experiences helps drive persistence in searching for life’s rewards.
