For many years, researchers knew that rodents’ squeaks tell a lot about how the animals are feeling. Much like a wagging tail on a dog, certain vocalizations indicate the rodents are happy. Conversely, other vocalizations indicate the rodents are stressed, or even depressed.
But why were they interested in the rodents’ moods? These researchers wanted to understand the rodents’ responses to various stimuli. This can help researchers determine the best way to help people who are addicted or depressed. They would be able to tell if a treatment helped reduce the feelings of depression by simply analyzing how the rodents chatted.
