A new breed of computer users: rats control a cursor via joystick manipulation.
Many exciting findings have been reported in the 15 years since monkeys were first demonstrated to have the capacity to perform computerized tasks. The present data indicate that albino rats can also learn to respond to computer-generated stimuli by manipulating a joystick. Although the rat's control of the cursor is not as skillful as has been reported for primate species, it is clearly better than chance and suggests the great potential for comparative investigation afforded by use of the computer test system.
Washburn
David A
DA
Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303, USA. dwashburn@gsu.edu
Rulon
Michael J
MJ
Gulledge
Jonathan P
JP
D032761:Animal Experimentation; D000818:Animals; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D005795:Generalization, Stimulus; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D051381:Rats; D014584:User-Computer Interface