Experiment Shows Rats Helping Other Distressed Rats
A series of experiments tested whether or not rats help each other out in moments of distress. It turns out not only will rats work towards freeing an anxious cage mate, but they'll even forgo a treat to do so.
A recent study tested rats' empathic behavior. In order to do so, two rats were placed in a divided cage with only a door connecting them.
In the first experiment, one rat in the cage was soaked while the other remained dry. Witnessing the wet rat's distress caused the dry rat to open the door to free it.
9 out of the 10 rats who remained dry during this procedure freed their wet rat mate.
The roles of the rats were switched around, and it was then discovered
A recent study tested rats' empathic behavior. In order to do so, two rats were placed in a divided cage with only a door connecting them.
In the first experiment, one rat in the cage was soaked while the other remained dry. Witnessing the wet rat's distress caused the dry rat to open the door to free it.
9 out of the 10 rats who remained dry during this procedure freed their wet rat mate.
The roles of the rats were switched around, and it was then discovered
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