These scientists taught rats to drive tiny cars. Turns out, it's good for them

In Kelly Lambert's lab at the University of Richmond, rats are trained to drive tiny cars. Researchers are studying how that training, and the anticipation associated with it, affects their brains.

Regina Barber, photographed for NPR, 6 June 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Farrah Skeiky for NPR.

Rebecca Ramirez, photographed for NPR, 6 June 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Farrah Skeiky for NPR.

Regina G. Barber is a co-host of Short Wave, NPR's science podcast.

Rebecca Ramirez (she/her) is the founding producer of NPR's science podcast, Short Wave. It's a meditation in how to be a Swiss Army Knife, in that it involves a little of everything — background research, finding and booking sources, interviewing guests, writing, cutting the tape, editing, scoring ... you get the idea.

December 03, 2024

In neuroscientist Kelly Lambert's lab at the University of Richmond, rats hop into cars, rev their engines, and skid across the floor of an arena. Once they maneuver their vehicles across the finish line, they receive praise ... and a Froot Loop reward.

Why? It turns out the answer reinforces the age-old saying: It’s about the journey, not the destination. That’s because the majority of the lab rats seem to prefer driving to their Froot Loops to walking to them.

“It’s amazing what their little brains can do,” says Lambert, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Richmond. “It’s humbling.”

Today on the show, Short Wave host Regina G. Barber talks with Kelly about her lab’s driving rats and what they tell us about anticipation, neuroplasticity and decision making. Plus, why optimism might be good for rats — and for humans, too.

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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Jimmy Keeley was the audio engineer.