The Science of Tickling Rats

Canberra scientists are tickling rats in a bid to improve their experience in laboratories

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Canberra researchers are tickling rats in a bid to boost their emotional wellbeing and improve their interactions with humans. It may read like an out-take from Stuart Little, but according to the ACT government's Centre for Health and Medical Research these so-called tickle sessions have a positive effect on the rodents. A poster presented to a Canberra Health Annual Research meeting last month and then published on the ACT Health website, said rat tickling could lessen the impact of handling, making it easier to carry out research with the animals. The poster also said tickling reduced the rats' fear response and even acted as a type of "social enrichment." Sorry, why are we tickling rats? Because, apparently, it makes them happy.

via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/2TW8gHh