Vehicular rats change course of neuroscience

Driving rats might hold the key to reshaping behavioral neuroscience as we know it.

University of Richmond professor Kelly Lambert is forging new ground in understanding how experiences and environment can influence our brains' ability to adapt.

Lambert studies neuroplasticity, or how the brain changes over time. Three decades of research have shown her how our brains benefit when we interact with our environment to achieve a goal — and how they suffer when they don't.

By teaching rats the art of the stick-shift and measuring their responses to training, Lambert is learning even more about cognitive development in humans.

"Rat brains have all the same areas and neurochemicals that our brains have ... so it's a good starting point, a model, to use to learn more about the human brain," Lambert said.

In her latest research, Lambert and her team challenged two groups of rats to drive small, plastic cars. One group of rats came from "enriched" environments with more space and increased mental stimulation; the other group came from a standard lab environment.

Lambert's research found that rats housed in a complex, enriched environment learned the driving task, but rats housed in standard laboratory cages had problems learning the task.

"That means the complex environment led to more behavioral flexibility and neuroplasticity."

The continued study can have a significant impact on the mental health field. Through better understanding the brain's neuroplasticity, we may discover more effective treatments for anxiety, depression, and the negative impacts of stress on our life.

"This research could have therapeutic value as we learn more and help us better understand mental illnesses and mental health," Lambert said.