The term "rat race" may soon mean actual rats racing in cars. This is because scientists have taught rats to drive tiny cars around a laboratory. Neuroscientist Dr Kelly Lambert has worked with the rodents since 2019. She told the news agency "The Conversation" that the creatures learned to rev the engines of their miniature vehicles, and they seemed to "get a kick out of it". She said: "We found that the rats had an intense motivation for their driving training, often jumping into the car and revving the…engine before their vehicles hit the road."

Lambert's study explored the relationship between rats and their environment. She wanted to find out how their thinking developed, and how they processed new skills. In her tests, she gave one group of lab rats many toys and companions. The other test rodents got no toys and fewer friends. Lambert trained the rats to associate driving with a sweet reward. The rats with the toys learned to drive better. She concluded that her research supported the idea that complex environments enhanced neuroplasticity. This is the brain's ability to reorganize connections during learning.