Uploaded May 2015 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
In a new study, researchers placed two rats in a cage divided in half by a wall with a small door. On one side of the wall, a rat sat high and dry. But on the other side, a second rat was soaked and left to sit in a pool of water; rats hate getting wet. When the dry rat noticed the distressed and drenched cage mate, the dry rat consistently opened the door to liberate the comrade. Researchers say their findings suggest that rats may experience empathy.
To test a rat’s empathetic behavior, scientists set up three scenarios in which a dry rat could liberate the soaked cage mate. In the first scenario, scientists placed a rat — we’ll call it the helper rat — in the dry area of the experimental box, and a soaked rat in the pool area. Nine out of 10 helper rats opened the door dividing the two spaces, allowing their distressed friend to escape the pool. You can see helper rats in action in a short video clip from the study.
Read the full story here: discovermagazine.com/mind/rats-forgo-treats-to-rescue-a-distressed-cage-mate
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Credit: Sato, N., Tan, L., Tate, K., Okada, M. 2015. Rats demonstrate helping behavior toward a soaked conspecific. Anim Cogn. 18: 1039. doi.org/10.1007/s10071-015-0872-2
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In a new study, researchers placed two rats in a cage divided in half by a wall with a small door. On one side of the wall, a rat sat high and dry. But on the other side, a second rat was soaked and left to sit in a pool of water; rats hate getting wet. When the dry rat noticed the distressed and drenched cage mate, the dry rat consistently opened the door to liberate the comrade. Researchers say their findings suggest that rats may experience empathy.
To test a rat’s empathetic behavior, scientists set up three scenarios in which a dry rat could liberate the soaked cage mate. In the first scenario, scientists placed a rat — we’ll call it the helper rat — in the dry area of the experimental box, and a soaked rat in the pool area. Nine out of 10 helper rats opened the door dividing the two spaces, allowing their distressed friend to escape the pool. You can see helper rats in action in a short video clip from the study.
Read the full story here: discovermagazine.com/mind/rats-forgo-treats-to-rescue-a-distressed-cage-mate
—
Credit: Sato, N., Tan, L., Tate, K., Okada, M. 2015. Rats demonstrate helping behavior toward a soaked conspecific. Anim Cogn. 18: 1039. doi.org/10.1007/s10071-015-0872-2
—
ABOUT DISCOVER:
Discover is your source for science that matters, makes sense and is a lot of fun, too.
Visit us at: discovermagazine.com
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverMag
Twitter: twitter.com/DiscoverMag
Instagram: instagram.com/discover.magazine
SUPPORT US:
Subscribe to Discover: bit.ly/34seAFT
Sign up for our newsletter: discovermagazine.com/newsletter-signup
My Science Shop: myscienceshop.com
STAY CURIOUS!
