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MIT Researchers Explore How Rats Think

Posted by Zonk on from the i-think-backwards-all-the-time dept.

Ant writes "A Nature News article explains that, after running a maze, rats mentally replay their actions backwards." From the article: "As the rats ran along the track, the nerve cells fired in a very specific sequence. This is not surprising, because certain cells in this region are known to be triggered when an animal passes through a particular spot in a space. But the researchers were taken aback by what they saw when the rats were resting. Then, the same brain cells replayed the sequence of electrical firing over and over, but in reverse and speeded up. 'It's absolutely original; no one has ever seen this before at all,' says Edvard Moser, who studies memory at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim."

16 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Move over CS grads by hobotron · · Score: 5, Funny


    If a rat knows the difference between a Stack and a Queue, you better start updating your resume.

    --
    There is truth in humor.
    1. Re:Move over CS grads by ComaVN · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm sure you could have inserted a tail-recursion joke in there, too.

      --
      Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
  2. I found this very interesting. by ian_mackereth · · Score: 1, Funny

    .gnitseretni yrev siht dnuof I

  3. I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I for one welcome our backwards thinking, self destructive virus-laden overlords.

  4. Tomorrow's Headline by themysteryman73 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Evidence finally found to support conspiracy theorists' claims of rats plotting world domination.

    1. Re:Tomorrow's Headline by rd4tech · · Score: 2, Funny

      42

  5. How they think? by neoform · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's pretty simple, once they get the juice on someone, they squeal to the nearest narc.. obviously.

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    MABASPLOOM!
  6. Never Before Has There Been A Comment Like This by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 4, Funny

    "It's absolutely original; no one has ever seen this before at all," says Edvard Moser.

    Except for the rats, of course.

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    7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
  7. Narf! by (negative+video) · · Score: 2, Funny
    Evidence finally found to support conspiracy theorists' claims of rats plotting world domination.
    But Brain, where are we going to find 500 dancing girls and a cubic meter of Silly Putty at this time of the night?
  8. I know what they're thinking! by ProstheticSwan · · Score: 0, Funny

    Pinky: Gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight? Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!

  9. Real political science. by www.sorehands.com · · Score: 3, Funny

    MIT is studying politicians. They use rats since the rats won't pick the scientist's when they turn their backs.

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    Fight Spammers!
    1. Re:Real political science. by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ofcourse they didn't detect brain activity. Politician have MIBO-registers (Money In, Bullshit Out), not brains.

  10. Interestingly enough.... by ChrisGilliard · · Score: 3, Funny

    The researchers found that some of the rats thought more about the maze than others. Here's a picture of two mice. The one on the left thought much more about his performance than the one on the right.

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    No Sigs!
  11. Re:brain == computer by Ithika · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, but when you die Netcraft confirms it.

    --
    the layman's guide to computer science
  12. Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    overlords rat thinking backwards new out welcome, one for I.

  13. Here's a brief summary by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Food...food...food...fuck...food...water...sleepy. ..food...food...sleepy

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.