Why Scientists Taught Rats to Drive Tiny Cars (and What That Says About You, Snacks, and Stress)

Let’s Start with the Weird Part

Okay, so here’s something you probably didn’t expect to read today: scientists taught rats to drive. Not drive you nuts — like, actually drive. Little clear plastic cars. With wheels. And steering. And snacks as motivation.

Why? Because science.

But not just for the fun of watching rodents take joyrides (although let’s be honest, that’s already a solid reason). The researchers behind this adorable experiment were trying to figure out how learning new skills and having a sense of control over your environment can affect stress levels — in rats and in us.

Spoiler alert: the rats who learned to drive became less stressed. Which might say a lot about you, your brain, and why doing something new — even something totally random — might be exactly what you need.

So… How Exactly Did This Work?

This brilliant experiment came out of the University of Richmond, where neuroscientist Dr. Kelly Lambert and her team built what can only be described as ratmobiles: little plastic containers on wheels, with three copper bars inside that acted as a steering system. If the rat touched the left bar, the car turned left. Right bar, right turn. Center bar, straight ahead. And if they successfully drove the car toward a designated treat zone? You guessed it — snack time.

And yes, there is video footage. And yes, it is amazing. Rats doing U-turns. Rats cruising to their snacks like they're late for brunch. It's exactly as joyful as you're imagining.

But what’s more interesting than how cute it is, is why this matters. The researchers weren’t just seeing if rats could figure out a toy — they were testing how learning complex skills affects brain chemistry and stress hormones.

Here’s What Happened to the Rats

Rats who were trained to drive showed signs of reduced stress compared to rats who didn’t get the driving lessons. The researchers measured levels of two key hormones: corticosterone, which is associated with stress, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is linked to resilience and stress recovery. The drivers had better balance between the two, which is a fancy way of saying:

Learning something hard — even as a rat — made them more chill.

Even more interesting: rats who were housed in enriched environments (think tunnels, toys, ladders — rat luxury condos) were better at learning to drive than those who weren’t. This supports the idea that a stimulating, playful environment literally changes your brain.

Now Here’s the Part That Applies to You

Let’s be real: most of us aren’t going to learn to drive a rat car. But this study says something super valuable about humans, too:

Learning new skills + having a sense of control = lower stress and better mental health.

Which means those times you feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in a rut — what your brain might actually need is:

• A creative outlet (painting, writing, even coloring books)

• A puzzle to solve (Sudoku? Wordle? Figuring out how to fold a fitted sheet?)

• Or a brand new challenge — one you don’t have to be good at right away

The idea is that the act of doing something new and complex, especially when it results in a reward (hello, dopamine), can make your brain feel safer, more capable, and — you guessed it — less stressed.

Just like the rats.

Why Adult Learning Is Basically Rat Driving for Grown-Ups

Here’s something no one really tells you in school: learning doesn’t stop being good for your brain just because you graduated. If anything, learning as an adult might be even more important.

We’re wired to explore, to problem-solve, to get better at stuff. But adult life tends to squash that. Bills, burnout, endless Zoom calls — some of us often go months (or years) without doing anything that’s new just for the sake of learning.

But science is pretty clear: your brain thrives on novelty. It doesn’t even need to be useful or productive — it just needs to be new and interesting. That might mean:

• Learning how to crochet

• Taking an online class about mushrooms

• Finally signing up for archery lessons (game changer for me!)

• Figuring out how to make perfect scrambled eggs (in a pot over low heat with stirring over 15 minutes!!)

You don’t have to be “good” at it — in fact, struggling a little is where the magic happens. That’s the same zone those little rat brains hit when they were figuring out the driving controls.

And just like the rats, when you learn something challenging, your brain adjusts your stress hormones. It’s like building emotional armor with every new skill you pick up.

Burnout Isn’t Laziness — It’s a Lack of Reward Loops

If you’ve ever hit that wall where you feel like a potato wearing a human costume, you know what burnout feels like. And it’s not just emotional — it’s neurological.

Burnout is often the result of doing too much that feels pointless and not enough that feels rewarding. And here’s where the rat study gets extra juicy: the rats who worked for a reward (driving = snack) ended up with better stress resilience than the rats who didn’t have to earn anything.

That’s a huge takeaway. The act of doing something hard and getting something back matters. It lights up the brain’s reward system, balances your hormones, and makes you feel more capable.

So if you’re burned out:

• Don’t just rest — try doing something new with a payoff

• Build mini reward loops into your day: “If I write 500 words, I get fancy chocolate.”

• Or even go full rat and create a silly system: “Every time I complete a chore, I drive my office chair to the kitchen.”

Effort → outcome helps your brain feel alive again. Even a tiny win can disrupt the burnout cycle.

Why Video Games, Hobbies, and Even LEGO Sets Help Your Brain Chill Out

Let’s talk dopamine.

Rats got snacks. We get:

• Level ups

• Completed paintings

• The satisfying click of that last puzzle piece

• Or maybe the rush of finishing a side quest in a cozy video game

Hobbies and games mimic that same reward loop — and they do it in a way that feels safe, fun, and totally in your control. They’re basically self-care disguised as play.

In fact, games are so effective at creating this balance of challenge and reward that therapists have started using “gamification” to treat anxiety and depression. And it works — because the same pathways that made those rats more resilient are lighting up in us too.

So if you’ve ever felt weird about spending your weekend perfecting your Animal Crossing island, crafting a monorail in Minecraft, or building a miniature haunted mansion out of foam board — don’t. You’re rebalancing your brain.

Hobbies = stress therapy
Play = healing
Video games = rat cars for millennials

So… What’s Your “Rat Car”?

I think about this study more than I probably should — but honestly, it makes so much sense. A rat, in a car, doing something complicated and ridiculous just to get a snack... and somehow becoming more emotionally stable in the process?

Same, buddy. Same.

The core takeaway here isn’t just that rats can learn to drive (although, wow). It’s that your brain loves a good challenge, especially when there’s something in it for you. Learning something new, working toward a reward, and being in control of even a tiny slice of your world? That’s neurochemical gold.

So if you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or like you’re just floating through tasks you don’t care about — ask yourself:

What’s the weird, tiny, possibly unnecessary thing I can learn or do… just because it sparks joy?

Maybe it’s learning how to make the perfect latte. Or assembling a LEGO flower set. Or finally tackling that watercolor kit sitting in your closet. Whatever it is, do it for the dopamine. Do it because it’s your version of a rat car.

And hey — if you’re in full stress-blob mode and want something easy to start with?

I found this cute little kinetic desk toy that you can fidget with while working or brainstorming. It’s surprisingly hypnotic, and it’s basically a no-effort reward loop for your hands! Fidget toys are my favorite.

Perfect if you need a brain reset but don’t have time to learn bonsai tree trimming right this second. Also, it's the kind of thing I feel like one of the rats would’ve driven toward if given the chance.

Science doesn’t always make me emotional, but this one does. Because in the middle of this bizarre little study about rodents, there’s this beautiful message:

Even small wins — silly, snack-driven, low-stakes challenges — can rewire your brain toward resilience.

So be a rat. Find your car. Chase the snack.
Your stress levels will thank you.