Rats laugh when tickled by researchers
When gently tickled, rats emit ultrasonic chirps, interpreted as laughter, revealing their capacity for joy and complex emotions, much like humans.
Rats make high-pitched ultrasonic chirps, similar to laughter, when tickled by humans. These sounds, beyond human hearing, were first documented by neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp in the 1990s. Young, playful rats emit these chirps during social interactions or when their bellies are tickled, signaling enjoyment and social bonding.
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