We all know the strict set of rules for a proper game of hide-and-seek. For example, midway through the game, the “seeker” cannot switch to become a “hider”, and hiders should stay put until they’re found.
Scientists through this study have discovered that lab rats can play hide-and-seek properly. What’s more, these rats seem to enjoy playing the game with people.
Neuroscientist Michael Brecht of the Humboldt University of Berlin got the idea for his experiment from YouTube. “There are all these YouTube videos from pet owners that say their animals love to do this,” he says. Although it’s well known that rats play lots of rough-and-tumble games, hide-and-seek is so much more elaborate that Brecht wondered whether they could really do it.
See more of this study over at Science Magazine.
(Image Credit: sibya/ Pixabay)
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yes if they want to
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