[Animal Experiment]-Rats will also regret doing wrong things

  Recent studies believe that rats also regret the lack of better food. This is the first time regret has been found in mammals other than humans. Neuroscientists at the University of Minnesota designed the experimental conditions. In this case, the mice must choose between waiting for a period of time or eating other foods. It is regrettable that the mice correct their decisions in subsequent experiments.

  The mouse left and found that the new food had deteriorated. He felt sorry. This shows that behaviors like regret can influence the future decisions of rodents and eliminate the notion that regret belongs to humans only. Professor Davideddish of the research team said: "The difference between regret and disappointment is very important. This is another problem we must solve." The key to the experiment is to let the mouse choose.

  They designed a task called "Food Street" to provide another food every 60 minutes. The mouse can choose how long to wait. Professor Redish said: "It's like queuing in a restaurant. If the line in a Chinese restaurant is too long, you can give up and go to another restaurant."

  Sometimes, mice will not wait or go out, but face something worse. You just notice what you are doing. Choose, scientists call this situation a condition that causes regret. In these cases, the rat will usually stop and then look back at the missing food. They are also more likely to wait in the next area and eager to change their next decision and enjoy the next food. Researchers say this behavior is consistent with feelings of regret.

  If the mouse does not make the right decision and encounters the wrong choice, it will regret its actions. ``When humans regret, when we regret, the orbital prefrontal cortex of the brain becomes very active. We found that rats will encounter similar situations. In other words, if you miss the opportunity, you will regret it. "

  Interestingly, regretting the lack of food in mice is like human regrets not because they did not get something, but because they did not do it. .. Professor Redish believes that the regret model of these animals can help us understand how regret affects people's decisions.