Meet My Pet Rats

I just came across an interesting article about metacognition in rats: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070308121856.htm Basically it says a study has shown that rats are capable of thinking about whether or not they know something. Here’s an excerpt:

Researchers have believed for some time that people and non-human primates are capable of “metacognition”–reasoning or thinking about one’s own thinking. There have been studies on birds about this kind of thinking process, but results thus far have been inconclusive. The new study is the first that shows a non-primate species has metacognition–a proposal that may well be controversial.

I always tell people how smart rats are, and no one believes me! Now I have proof. It’s an interesting article, and some of the “related articles” next to it are pretty interesting too.

P.S. An update on Pixel - I called the vet earlier to make an appointment, and the person who answered the phone said it definitely just sounds like an ear infection. Unfortunately, I can’t get him in to get some medicine until Thursday But at least it isn’t something more serious.