These Rats Prefer Driving Over Walking
get a kick out of something: to enjoy something
Rats driving tiny cars might sound like a joke, but it’s actually part of a serious science experiment. Kuzko and Kronk were trained by their owners to drive small electric vehicles. The rats were taught to press three pedals that make the car go left, right, or forward.
According to one research study, rats that learn to drive show lower stress levels than rats who don’t. Their brains produce higher amounts of a hormone linked to calm feelings. It also seemed to make them happier.
The rats were trained to drive by giving them food as a reward. But now, they seem to enjoy the driving more than the reward. In one experiment, the rats were given two choices. They could walk a short distance to the reward, or they could take a longer route by running to a tiny car and driving. Surprisingly, some of the rats chose the longer option. They seem to get a kick out of driving, even if it takes more time to get the reward.
Sample sentences
My cat gets a kick out of knocking things off the table.
I always get a kick out of seeing old friends from school.
He gets a kick out of learning new languages.
Read More:
Family teaches their rats to drive tiny electric cars because, oddly, it’s good for them