A number of American scientists have succeeded in training mice to drive and guide small cars, after stimulating them with candy and toys.
According to CNN, the scientists said the aim of the study was to find new ways to treat human mental health.
These small cars were made of empty food cans, aluminum wheels and a copper steering wheel.
Scientists from the University of Richmond tried to train two groups of small mice to drive these cars, one group trained in a rich environment of candy, balls and games designed to stimulate mental stimulation, and another group trained in a large cage free of any stimuli.
After examining the stools of all the mice in the study, the scientists found that the mentally stimulated group had higher levels of corticosterone and DHA in their stools, which help the body deal with physical and emotional stress.
The findings are "evidence that motivating people to learn new behaviors and activities may enhance their emotional ability," said Kelly Lambert, lead researcher and author of the Lambert Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Richmond. She added that this emotional strengthening of the human being is one of the first lines of defense against mental illnesses such as depression.