I taught rats to drive. They taught me to enjoy the ride | Kelly Lambert - TED Talks Daily Recap

Podcast: TED Talks Daily

Published: 2026-03-18

Duration: 16 min

What Happened

Kelly Lambert, a behavioral neuroscientist, shares her journey from studying negative emotions like depression to exploring joy in rats. During her research, she noticed rats displaying excitement and joy, particularly when they were anticipating positive experiences. This led Lambert to investigate the potential for studying joy in rats, building on her work with 'behaviorceuticals' - the idea that changing behavior can therapeutically alter brain chemistry.

Lambert trained rats to drive small cars to explore concepts like agency and skill acquisition. These 'rodent-operated vehicles' (ROVs) became a tool for science outreach, turning the rats into minor celebrities. Through this, Lambert observed that the rats seemed to enjoy the process of driving, hinting at a form of pleasure or joy in the activity itself.

In her experiments, Lambert introduced the concept of 'unpredictable positive event responses' or 'uppers' to study anticipation in rats. The rats were exposed to fun activities in an unpredictable order, leading to behaviors associated with joy or positive anticipation. These findings suggested that anticipation and the associated positive emotions could be as crucial for well-being as the reward itself.

Lambert's research highlighted a difference in how male and female rats responded to anticipation. While the males shifted from a pessimistic to an optimistic strategy, the females remained more reality-based. This gender difference in response to anticipation may have broader implications for understanding emotional responses in humans.

The research also touched on the concept of hope and its impact on resilience. Lambert referenced the work of Kurt Richter, who found that lab rats, accustomed to changing conditions, showed more resilience in challenging situations compared to wild rats. This notion of hope and the possibility of change is crucial in both animal and human contexts.

Kelly Lambert's work suggests that positive emotions and the pursuit of joy are vital for mental health. She notes that while there is a term for negative anticipation ('dread'), there isn't one in English for positive anticipation. The German word 'Vorfreude' captures this idea, highlighting the importance of joy and anticipation in maintaining a healthy brain.

Key Insights

• Kelly Lambert's research with rats driving cars revealed insights into joy and anticipation, suggesting that these emotions are crucial for mental well-being.
• The concept of 'behaviorceuticals' posits that intentional behavioral changes can therapeutically alter brain chemistry, similar to the effects of drugs.
• Experiments with anticipation showed that male rats shifted from pessimism to optimism, while females remained more reality-based, indicating gender differences in emotional responses.
• Historical research by Kurt Richter demonstrated that the hope of rescue increased resilience in rats, suggesting that hope and anticipation can significantly impact behavior and survival.