Teaching Rats to Drive: A Novel Method for Spatial Navigation Research in Rats

The study aims to separate spatial navigation from running on foot and explores the necessity of running in spatial navigation by introducing rats to a car they can drive. Using a specialized protocol utilizing principles of operant conditioning, six female Long-Evans rats were taught to operate a car in order to reach an intended destination with reinforcers. Poster was presented in 2019 University of Richmond A&S Student Symposium and 31st Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science in Washington, DC