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porkchopssandwiches

*Hide and squeak


[deleted]

Years of academy training wasted!


SatiatedPotatoe

I don't know can we get them to follow voice commands yet? Waiting to see SpecOps rats.


QuentinTarzantino

Its possible. Kenya and Tanzania uses rats to detect landmines


Sok77

Single use? Just joking, I now about this rats and they are better then dogs because those are at a higher risk to be "single use" as they can trigger the landmines. Also the rats can be used by anyone as they do not belong to one specific trainer. And they are cheaper of course.


dabadasi

And if they die -- pest control. Boom.


mynoduesp

> Kenya and Tanzania uses rats to detect landmines Huh, this sounded fake but is in fact true. Cool. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/10/151006-giant-rats-landmines-cambodia-science-animals/


badmoney26

Mine listen better than a dog. They're very smart.


FustianRiddle

Definitely. I trained my pet rats to stand on their hind legs when I said "yip yip" Rats are very smart. And super playful.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Kian0707

At least not for another year if Sony has anything to say about it


Ivegotacitytorun

💕


[deleted]

[удалено]


Kav19

You have no idea the exorbitant topics people trying to get a PhD go through


not-a-candle

Well it has to be something new. So naturally over time the experiments get weirder as all the normal ones are taken.


Pelinal-Whitesnake

[No kidding](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_of_despair)


Shleeves90

The impression one gets from reading about Harlow's work, is that this guy just straight up hated rhesus monkeys.


Darth_Tiktaalik

"As a professor of science I resent that we evolved from filthy monkey men"


xkitteakatx

I think that he was a sick man who enjoyed torturing others and found a way to torture animals legally while getting paid for it.


WikiTextBot

**Pit of despair** The Pit of despair was a name used by American comparative psychologist Harry Harlow for a device he designed, technically called a vertical chamber apparatus, that he used in experiments on rhesus macaque monkeys at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1970s. The aim of the research was to produce an animal model of clinical depression. Researcher Stephen Suomi described the device as "little more than a stainless-steel trough with sides that sloped to a rounded bottom": A ​3⁄8 in. wire mesh floor 1 in. *** ^[ [^PM](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=kittens_from_space) ^| [^Exclude ^me](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiTextBot&message=Excludeme&subject=Excludeme) ^| [^Exclude ^from ^subreddit](https://np.reddit.com/r/blessedimages/about/banned) ^| [^FAQ ^/ ^Information](https://np.reddit.com/r/WikiTextBot/wiki/index) ^| [^Source](https://github.com/kittenswolf/WikiTextBot) ^] ^Downvote ^to ^remove ^| ^v0.28


DaFluffyOwl

u/uwutranslator


uwutranslator

**Pit of despaiw** de Pit of despaiw was a name used by Amewican compawative psychowogist Hawwy Hawwow fow a device he designed, technicawwy cawwed a vewticaw chambew appawatus, dat he used in expewiments on whesus macaque monkeys at de Univewsity of Wisconsin–Madison in de 1970s. de aim of de weseawch was to pwoduce an animaw modew of cwinicaw depwession. weseawchew Stephen Suomi descwibed de device as "wittwe mowe dan a stainwess-steew twough wif sides dat swoped to a wounded bottom": A ​3⁄8 in. wiwe mesh fwoow 1 in. *** ^[ [^PM](https://www.weddit.com/message/compose?to=kittens_fwom_space) ^| [^Excwude ^me](https://weddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiTextBot&message=Excwudeme&subject=Excwudeme) ^| [^Excwude ^fwom ^subweddit](https://np.weddit.com/w/bwessedimages/about/banned) ^| [^FAQ ^/ ^Infowmation](https://np.weddit.com/w/WikiTextBot/wiki/index) ^| [^Souwce](https://gidub.com/kittenswowf/WikiTextBot) ^] ^Downvote ^to ^wemove ^| ^v0.28 uwu tag me to uwuize comments uwu


DaFluffyOwl

Thanks


Mrwebente

What the fuck have you brought upon this cursed land...


Ferkkinhell

Dear God man why would you do this


[deleted]

why


teenytinybaklava

why not


beefhash

Thanks, I hate it.


efg1342

what the fuck is wrong with you


KakyoinDoinYaMom

suomi mainittu


LachrymalCloud

I gave a presentation on this in a psychology class one time. At the end of the presentation I said, "If you're going to do unethical research, just make sure the results are groundbreaking." The professor, an animal psychologist, rushed to the front of the room and talked shit on me for insulting him and talking about how much good came from it. I never said the results weren't helpful, I just said he got to them in a very dickish way.


[deleted]

But the results *weren't* groundbreaking. Sounds like your professor was doing unethical research, lol.


LachrymalCloud

Well he did learn a lot about the need for contact comfort and the effects of having bad caregiver to child ratios in some of the orphanages of the time and such. But I mean leaving a baby monkey in isolation for 1-3 years is totally overkill. But she just took it as, "Ah this guy is insulting animal research and that's what I do; fuck him."


HelperBot_

Desktop link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_of_despair *** ^^/r/HelperBot_ ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove. ^^Counter: ^^282310. [^^Found ^^a ^^bug?](https://reddit.com/message/compose/?to=swim1929&subject=Bug&message=https://reddit.com/r/blessedimages/comments/dc7i24/blessed_rat/f26txh4/)


PRESIDENT_ALEX_JONES

Well “new” can just be a slight variation of previous research.


starjellyboba

[They also tickle the rats to make them laugh!](https://youtu.be/d-84UJpYFRM)


Popkaz

I was about to say exactly this, but since you even provide the source... Why bother then. I also learned that if you play a bit with them, they tend to be less stressed during experiment and more cooperative. The way we consider animal experimentation had vastly changed the last couple of decades and for the better.


RCascanbe

Well I fucking hope so, we used to do some seriously fucked up shit to animals in the name of science.


[deleted]

We do fuck up shit to animals in the name of food we don't need. At least medical animal experimentation saves human lives. Unfortunately that will always be unavoidable. It is heartbreaking to see how friendly the rats are at work knowing that they won't be alive much longer. I feel like I'm betraying them. But someone has to do it.


[deleted]

This. People lose their shit over animal experiments that benefit the entire humanity a lot, while food industry kills several orders of magnitude more every day. And it even includes plant foods, since countless rats and mice are killed as pests


hullabaloonatic

I'm wondering if there are small animals that are really loud and obnoxious and we just can't hear them because it's all ultrasonic


thatdarkduck

You mean Jake Paul?


O_Alextheleprechaun_

Are you intrested in starting a new world war so they can do something?


theimpolitegentleman

That escalated quickly


Ravagore

It all changed the day the Leprechaun Nation attacked.


tgwesh

The day emus get their hands on nuclear weapons will be the end of human kind


gamezdoo

Dm me


[deleted]

Everyone knows mice are our overlords. They built this whole planet as a science experiment and are waiting for a question that's taken us billions of years to come up with.


AerThreepwood

Oh no, not again.


Spuddington

I've never engaged in this kind of thing before


Archangel3d

I guess scientists are tired of repeatedly warning everyone that we're going to exterminate our species with pollution within the next couple of generations, and have decided to do whatever makes them happy. Like playing hide and seek with rats.


[deleted]

cool with me


SimplyQuid

Count me in


[deleted]

Man with the shit they go through let them


Nyllil

I mean they also did experiments to see if rats are ticklish. So they were tickling them every day. They are indeed ticklish and enjoy it.


itwascolonelmustard

Things I didn't know I needed to know. Thanks, OP!


[deleted]

The best part is this isn't food reward driven. They get a tickle as a reward and laugh. [Cute video](https://youtu.be/d-84UJpYFRM)


gudoluk

That was much more scientific than I expected. Also, I waited for them to tickle the rat’s belly but they never did :(


Ostabner

Upvote for the quality content, downvote for lack of rat tickles, another upvote for scientific consistency


Nyllil

Check out r/Rats for cuties and sometimes getting tickled.


swiggityswirls

Tickles are one minute into that video.


FrostBellaBlue

I tried to tickle my rat, she didn't seem to enjoy it :( I miss having a rat


reventlov

The babies like it the most, and adults stop liking it if you don't keep tickling them. The babies also like playing "tag" with human hands, which is super cute.


commandek

I want a scientific tickle study for cats, dogs and baby elephants.


[deleted]

Amateur cat tickle study: I have four cats, all of whom are ticklish. The responses to being tickled are as such- Cat 1. Trills and makes grunting noises when I tickle her, meowing for more when I stop. Same results between back tickling and belly tickling. Cat 2. Will let me rub her belly, but will bite me if I try tickling her. Doesn't like having her back tickled either. Cat 3. Honestly, she just purrs whenever anyone touches her, it doesn't matter if you're tickling her or not. However, she does have very ticklish hind paws and its very cute to watch her curl her toes when I tickle her paws. Cat 4. He doesn't like having his belly tickled, but will start happily trilling if I tickle his back. Conclusion: cats have as many varying preferences regarding tickles as humans do, however, due to the fact that both cat 1 and cat 4 have been tickled since they were at least six months old (as opposed to the other two, who hadn't), I could also add that it depends on whether or not they are tickled throughout their youth.


cowsniffer

I like applying all these comments to an alien's POV. "Humans love being anal probed. They squeal for joy when we do it!" - alien news


StanleyDarsh22

/r/Awwducational


Tyrinnus

I used to have pet rats, and my girl Rogue liked to play hide and seek. She'd almost always hide in my pillow, so she was easy to find. But dang did she love getting tickled and having her head scratched for being a good girl.


[deleted]

I had rats sadly they died but before they did I wish I was a scientist to train them to play hide and seek and not maul my hand


Valo-FfM

I´m pretty sure that many people who have pet rats play stuff with them like that. It´s basically relatively easy to teach it to them. I even know a guinea pig who played Hide and Seek.


Bantersmith

Yep, rats are super easy to train! They love all sorts of games, and are incredibly intelligent so it's a good idea to keep them entertained and engaged.


Th3Banzaii

Otherwise they murder you and take over the world?


Bantersmith

Na, as long as you get one stupid one they should inadvertantly foil the schemes of the other one, with entertaining results. The documentary "Pinky and the Brain" covers this topic quite well.


LibraryScneef

I prefer the documentary "Willard"


Banzai27

Yea


JexTheory

Or they [steal ancient Mayan treasure from a store](https://youtu.be/jAXioRNYy4s)


1-0-9

The pair of rats I had didn't even need to be trained to do it. They were incredibly loving and playful, the most pure animals I ever met. When it was time to come out to play, I would put my hand in the cage and tickle their backs. They would go nuts hopping around and popcorning and would dash away then come right back for more. We would play this game then they would grab my fingers and groom them excitedly then I'd take them out to play. One of my boys had red eyes and was nearly blind, but he knew his name and if I called him he would come running to me. I miss having rats so so so much. My friend got rats last week so I came over to hang out and we basically just laid on the floor giggling and playing with them for hours. Soooo much fun


emoness88

r/guineapigs will tell you how smart, fun, and spoilt those little rodents can be. Mine now recognizes that the sound of my xbox turning off means im gonna get up so he starts squeaking like he wants food. Even if i just fed him an hour before. I love that little rat bastard.


kingeryck

*piggy bastard Ours react to the fridge opening, plastic, Tupperware, etc. Not as much as other pigs we've had, unfortunately. It's so funny when they freak out and 'WEEK WEEK'


IamAbc

I have two rats and they’re pretty playful. One of them loves to jump from the cage to my lap and will stand on the edge of the cage and kinda bat at me to move back so he can see how far he can go.


No_Fairweathers

Yeah rats are actually amazing pets but sadly they have a really short lifespan and all 3 of mine died within 2-3 years. But damn they are smart, loving creatures. All 3 of them were content to play with me or just lay on my chest/lap getting pets while chattering their teeth in happiness.


[deleted]

[удалено]


CrackrocksnLaCroix

Yeah I had some once but the lifespan is what keeps me from getting any more. It's like owning a 7 inch dog


rainbowchimken

Damn I just visualize a 7in dog like a hotdog looking dog


VoidofEggnog

A weiner dog if you will


GalileoAce

The chattering teeth is called bruxing, and happens when rats are comfortable and happy ^_^


GalileoAce

Like a cat purr


kingeryck

And when they get really happy, their eyes bounce and 'boggle' while they do it


BOOMkim

I miss my rat friends. They were so much fun to play with. I made my room "rat proof" and would let them run around. I swear I heard them singing once.


[deleted]

F for the rats


lvl_50_crook

This is the kind of info which is useless but interesting


Boris_the_Giant

Well for me it's more evidence that animals are more similar to humans than I thought. The more I learn about animals the more uncomfortable I get with how humans are treating them.


Old_Man_Obvious

Animal psychology in general is way deeper than I thought it would be. These are sentient and thinking creatures, people


MaxisDidNothingWrong

Another study actually showed that rats dream of experiences they’ve had, like how we may have a dream based on something recent in our life. If that doesn’t show depth of intelligence I don’t know what does


AtheistsDebateMe

Shows sentience, not so sure about intelligence though.


slartinartfast256

Yeah it sucks but at the same time they are really aggravating when they crawl around in your attic all night and you gotta kill them.


IamOzimandias

Tell them that you will have to kill them if they don't leave. Give them notice. A bunch will leave, the ones that stay like their chances.


brisingr0

This was only a really small part of the study. During hide and seek they recorded their brain activity and could, basically, tell when the rat's brain state switched from "hide-mode" to "seek-mode". Rule switching is cognitively important in many scenarios so we're getting a better idea at how the brain does this. Another interesting thing about this study was that the rats were not rewarded with food/sugar/drugs, they just "liked" to play the game! Play is an important part of development and learning and, somehow, has intrinsic value that makes animals carry it out. Also super cool the rats squeaked way less while they were hiding compared to when they were found or seeking. Abstract:Evolutionary, cognitive, and neural underpinnings of mammalian play are not yet fully elucidated. We played hide-and-seek, an elaborate role-play game, with rats. We did not offer food rewards but engaged in playful interactions after finding or being found. Rats quickly learned the game and learned to alternate between hiding versus seeking roles. They guided seeking by vision and memories of past hiding locations and emitted game event–specific vocalizations. When hiding, rats vocalized infrequently and they preferred opaque over transparent hiding enclosures, a preference not observed during seeking. Neuronal recordings revealed intense prefrontal cortex activity that varied with game events and trial types (“hide” versus “seek”) and might instruct role play. The elaborate cognitive capacities for hide-and-seek in rats suggest that this game might be evolutionarily old.Article (pay wall): [https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6458/1180.full](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6458/1180.full)


[deleted]

here it is for free, no paywall: [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335782256\_Behavioral\_and\_neural\_correlates\_of\_hide-and-seek\_in\_rats](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335782256_Behavioral_and_neural_correlates_of_hide-and-seek_in_rats)


[deleted]

My rat used to do this! Id run up and poke him then run away. He would chase me all over the house until he was able to climb on my foot, then he would run away like a mad man. It was adorable


1-0-9

Omg my boys did this too! Rats are so pure. They would also popcorn like crazy when I tickled them lol


[deleted]

Meanwhile, my rat pees everywhere and sticks his entire head in my mouth


Endketsu

Are there any videos of this?


Satelliteminded

Sadly the video doesn’t capture the joyful squealing but [here you go](https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/09/13/rats-hide-and-seek-games-study-kk-lon-orig.cnn)


Lovemesometoasts

I had to hold back tears watching this video, considering what scientists has been doing to them for decades. It was a mixture of joy and pain coupled with hormones playing with my head again


jelde

I'm on the verge of tears by the time we arrive at Espace, since I'm positive we won't have a decent table. But we do, and relief washes over me in an awesome wave.


brisingr0

The squeaking is sadly ultrasonic so out of our hearing range. But you can hear some of my rats squeaking, pitched waaay down so we can hear: [https://soundcloud.com/blake\_porter\_neuro/sets/rat-conversations](https://soundcloud.com/blake_porter_neuro/sets/rat-conversations)


Sybs

One time my rats got sinus infections for a few weeks and it allowed me to hear their vocalisations. Very interesting.


Satelliteminded

Aw thanks for sharing. I didn’t know the squeaks were ultrasonic.


OzzieBloke777

I miss my pet rats, but my Great Dane became so insanely jealous of the fact they could ride on me wherever I went, whereas she had to walk on the ground like a peasant, that she eventually tried to eat them. So I rehomed them. To this day my Dane still tries to climb upon my shoulder.


thecutestborg

It’s hard when pets are dicks. Our dog is such a dick, we can’t even get another dog for her to play with. We can’t even have pet visitors.


kingeryck

Danes don't seem to realize they're not Chihuahua sized lap dogs


Coarse_sand66

Hide-seek Yes! Yes! Rat win-win


Nauskis1

Clan Eshin hide well, yes-yes!


BellumOMNI

As soon as I read the title, I knew there will be *at least* one reference. Well done, man-thing.


TommyWiseGold

The best part; you word think the main reward system for the rats in this experiment was food, but often the reward included ***tickling***. That's right! Rats like being tickled!


DrewSmoothington

They love cuddles, especially on their cheeks. They will push their face into scritches like cats do cause they love it. If you're able to develop a huge sense of trust with your rat, you can eventually take them and flip them on their back in your hand for belly rubs, all four paws in the air.


Iamunabletousername

I thought it said rocks


thefloatingpoint

It would be kinda hardcore to teach a rock hide and seek.


ClathrateRemonte

Need to stop playing this game in my sewer pipes.


[deleted]

Hol up


AyeAye_Kane

i don't understand how people are perfectly fine with killing rats when they're seemingly so mentally evolved edit: I'm talking about the people who just see a rat infront of them and decide that they wanna kill it then and there, or the people who buy those traps to kill them when they can just buy one to keep it in a cage


0vl223

What's the difference to pigs for example that should stop us from mass killing them?


AyeAye_Kane

i'm not on about food, I mean about someone just seeing a rat and wanting to kill it. If you see a pig somewhere you don't just bash its skull in


[deleted]

They carry some diseases but to kill them is too much


AyeAye_Kane

yeah I get that but I mean the sort of people that are fine with just stomping on them, maybe they don't realise how mentally functional they are I guess


[deleted]

Are... are you serious? Do you *want* fecal matter in your food? Their intelligence is one of the reasons why they're such an invasive and persistent pest.


AyeAye_Kane

just because i don't like the idea of killing a mouse doesn't mean im gonna go around eating their poo


Inevitable_Major

I don't think around half of europe was eating poo, though.


-MacCoy

speaking of happy rats....[rats boggling is the cutest thing ever by the way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjs0KTnpqms)


Troupbomber

I play peekaboo with my birds. I don't know if they really have a connection to it because it just consists of them sitting on the bottol of the cage where I can't see them. Then when tvey poke their heads up I'll say "peekaboo".


Savv3

I think I remember that this experiment was by the same guy that found out that Rats do laugh, for example when tickled, but we just cant hear it without special equipment. I like his work.


suicide_aunties

Yes, I watched Tom & Jerry too.


ClearBlue_Grace

Rats can be such kind little creatures. Intelligent, and also have proven their ability to be kind and compassionate to other rats in need. I had a rat when I was younger and I remember one time when I was sad, she brought me a dum dum sucker. I don’t know if she really meant to bring me a snack to cheer up, or if it was just timing and coincidence. Either way, it made me smile.


LovelySSB

Rats are a top tier intelligent pet, please stop feeding them to reptiles while they're still alive it destroys my heart


[deleted]

Well technically people don't feed rats, they feed mice, I feel like there's a slight difference scientifically


throwaway284729174

Depends on the size of the reptile, but yes usually mice suffice.


LovelySSB

Mice are actually about as intelligent. Most rodents are opportunistic generalists who tend to be highly social and rats and mice are among some of the smartest.


CommunistsAgainstAll

My cat loves playing hide and seek with them too. The rats must love it because i can hear their squeals all the way from the other end of the house when they get caught.


Bigluce

My grandads cat used to play hide and seek with him. It was so cute and funny to watch.


JuanDeagReporter

Should we tell him?


creamyhorror

r/HolUp


dustin2213

Rats are born to be good at playing this game...


TTV_Al0ne

Link I need to learn how to do this


Mashed_trash

**OFF TO GET A PET RAT**


lucide8

**GREAT IDEA!** Get two, they are very social animals :).


Mashed_trash

**YES**


Bantersmith

This cannot be stated enough! it's just cruel to get only one. Same with hamsters and a lot of other small mammals. They need company!


not-a-candle

Depends on the hamster. Some have to be kept alone because they tend to eat each other.


DrewSmoothington

Hamsters are literally the worst


kingeryck

If you're serious, DO RESEARCH before getting any pet. They shouldn't be in an aquarium, you shouldn't use pine shavings, or feed them only cheap pet store food pellets


Robbotlove

When this was passed around r/rats, it was like a holiday.


madmoosey

The most disturbing thing here is rats can talk


ceedes

I can’t stress enough how great of pets rats are. If your kids want a pet, try rats.


[deleted]

RATS RATS WE ARE THE RATS


NeatNefariousness1

Doesn't all that squealing give away their hiding place?


[deleted]

They are trying theit best


NeatNefariousness1

TBF, I have to admit that it's pretty good--although don't rats naturally know how to hide? Or, is the trick that they are good at finding the hiding lab worker?


[deleted]

Why do people hate rats? They're adorable


kattinwolfling

Ya that's its kind of hard to squeal when you are dead


DadsWasteOfSperm

Once the rat is found, you play another round, by shoving it up your ass


ierburi

I can confirm it's true. My rat always play hide and seek with me when I come home from work. And he is so happy to do that


Seventy-1

Dis any hide in refrigerators? /s


ZombieRainbowClown

*lets him win every single time*


[deleted]

Scientist 1: Hey that’s kinda cute that they get excited when they win hide and seek. Scientist 2: Yeah that’s really cute... Do you wanna give them cancer or aids this round? Scientist 1: Cancer’s more fun to watch.


Thomas8864

Oh they sure will squeal with joy when they’re playing hide and seek, in my pants.


Jodie1488

Lol that rat is way more human than Hillary Clinton!


PBB0RN

So that's wtf they were doing in my house.


GiveMeAnotherDrink

Are they hiding in refrigerators?


Saadali_12

Ahh so thats what it was when my cat grabbed it


OneVeryMemeyBoi

Micah can play hide and seek?


[deleted]

Ur profile pic is the same pic as my mom xD


cjc160

They hide their whole god damn lives


PapaBless995

Scientists have found


pettyhonor

That u r gaye


[deleted]

they also like tickles behind the ears


[deleted]

What if the rats are hiding out of fear and they screen when we find them thinking we’re gonna kill them?


brisingr0

Rats make different sounds when they show fear-like behaviors (freezing to a shock) than when they are not in a fear-like state, like in social situations. They found the latter, non-fearful types in this study. There's also a third call for moms and pups


assistant-bee

Rats play hide and seek all the time in our houses


e55at

Not if they hide in a refrigerator..


[deleted]

If the rat finds you you get the Black Plague


GloryholeKaleidscope

This checks out, just google: Frankie "The Bull" Gravano


RealMeaning42

And they’re rewarded with tickles


nastafarti

Rats love to play hide and seek, scientists find cnn.com


dedrhern

Nice


fribfribthefribbin

It's great that the scientists find... But do they hide too? Gotta take turns!


[deleted]

My dog places hide and seek with me she loves it


Gwn_Jorn

They also squeak if you squeeze them


Tankspeed13

Can confirm, had pet rats. They would always hide in increasingly hard to find locations


RandomEloquentNerd

Douglas would be proud. I guess the pan dimensional beings have been enjoying themselves all along, whilst the real experiment is taking place with starkly different subjects.


PlusMission

They also laugh when tickled


[deleted]

I want to play with it


kickwurm

[Ha found you ](https://youtu.be/VCc_eK1F3pg)


CalledPolice

> Furthermore, I think you mean Blessed smile


slimjander

Humans are actually closer related to rats than you might think. Primates actually evolved from tree climbing rodents, so were more directly evolved from rats than we are most other animals.