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From: FreeScienceLectures
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  • OMG facts

  • This is either pure genius or pure madness. There is such a fine line between the two.

  • It's sad. I can't look up rat videos anymore without seeing comments about people hating them.

    These animals are incredible. In addition to laughing, they also display something similar when a cagemate dies. They are very intelligent, and loving.

    Wild rats are often dirty, of course. Then again, so are many animals. That doesn't mean we should hate them with all of our guts.

  • Wow

  • Aw they are so cute! hehehe How did they ask them if they liked being tickled? Did they work out the rat language?

  • i once tickled my rat and it bit me my rat doesnt like to be tickled but my other one does he likes to be tickled on his tummy :)

  • Soooo sweeet. Saw this yesterday at university :)

  • that is so cool!

  • This is so cute!

  • I tickle my rats, and have listened to their happy giggles on the bat detector. I've also found sounds that they use when they see something odd, and want the other to come and see it with them. which is a high pitched CHIP. CHIP. CHIP. and then if they decide it's scary it goes to an EEEEEEEK! at which they both run and hide. but their tickle laugh is the best. it's not like the chips in the clip, it's more of a burbling WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE. very cute.

  • "Tickle me!"

  • Laughter was never really thought to be 'exclusively human'.. at least not recently. We always knew primates could laugh, for example. Though it is weird for scientists to generalize the vocal activity as laughter, it is pretty logical.. what else would it be? We are already in the process of phenotyping activities related to schizophrenia and autism in rats... soon we'll know there's not a lot of processes 'exclusively human'

  • how did they test them to ask though?

  • @faolkrop They keep asking for them to continue. It's fun for rats because it's very social! :)

  • watch my rat videos :)

  • This is cool, by why do they assume it is "laughter". It's probably some kind of communication from the rat, that's all you can really gather from this. It's stupid how people generalize things, and it's a little scary when you see "scientists" doing it.

  • @pcrilow Since this is part of a popular science series I suppose he's generalizing his language a bit so that we don't have to listen to the scientific jargon he would normally use.

  • @pcrilow Laughter is "some kind of communication".

  • @Shikamaru141 ....so they should say "some kind of communication", instead of "laughter". That's exactly what I meant, you're reiterating my point...

  • people who dislike this are dead on the inside

  • Lab rats are essentially domesticated animals. So it's not surprising that it's easy to get them to like people.

  • @megabigblur liking people is beside the point. the revelation of this experiment resides in the discovery that animals other than human hold the capacity for laughter. a trait largely regarded exclusively human.

  • AWWWWWWWWH

  • is he estonian?

  • "When we tested these animals to ask whether they were enjoying this activity, the unambiguous answer was 'yes'"

    Exactly how the fuck did they ask them? They left that part out.

  • @xRawlins

    its simple just by body language. If an animal hates it they would stay away from and try to get away

  • @xRawlins Your ignorance is sad. There is more than one way to find an answer.

  • @xRawlins it seems like a grammar error on their part... "To answer our question on whether these animals were enjoying this activity..." is how the statement should have been worded.

  • lol I do this with my rat Lewis... I know he loves it I just wish I could hear him laugh!

  • and then one day....we decided to tickle animals...

  • Aww thats to cute. My white and black rat, Pinto, is very ticklish.

  • EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!:(

  • Even though i hate rats i though this was pretty cute!:)

  • @scarlet3o3

    And what is there to hate about *this* rat in particular?

  • Is this true? Cuz my baby rat "laughs" all the time. And if it's not laughter I should be worried

  • its funny both rats in the tank are same colors as mine :) well those are common 

  • That is so amazingly Adorable!

  • Lol that's cute!

  • how would you ask a rat if they "enjoyed the activity?"

  • @eelamstylez77: You measure brain functions. We know which areas of the brain are active when enjoying something etc.

  • @Trampadoo haha yeah i know... it was supposed to be a funny question since in the video they literally say "we asked these rats if they enjoyed it"

  • @eelamstylez77: Hehe, I guess that shows a certain respect those scientists have for the rats. :)

  • now where's the untickled control rat?

  • :D

  • do the fifteen people that disliked this not have souls?

  • It took you 2 YEARS TO ACTUALLY DECIDE TO TICKLE IT?????? A child would have figured that out in 20 seconds!!!!

  • aww thats so cute i cant NOT chuckle! <3

  • Such beautiful and adorable creatures, I would love to play with them like that. Sure wild rats spend a lot of time in trash and are dirty, which make them spread disease (common sense tells you to stay away from them) but these are clean. I hate how they're misunderstood so much.

  • Sooo amazing when you tickle rats... :D

  • 1000 Like :)

  • @vannhile : it saves more lives than 911, plus it is unethical to test on human....but i'm sure you knew that

  • its so nice to finaly see rats being treated nicely

  • That's so cute, the rats are just chasing his hand and laughing!

  • amazing and funny!

  • why do people kill them ); and test on them and do all these crap to them D;

  • holy sh@! its the kernal

  • My job blows. This dude gets paid to tickle rats.

  • @GrayBearDavis your comment had me laughing like a dumb motherfucker for 10 whole minutes XD

  • @GrayBearDavis xD XD xd

  • Body slam @ 0:45.

  • Mirror!

    ____________________________

  • The person who comments above me is very gay :D

  • Rats emit sounds associated with pleasure but these sounds are too high pitched for human ears î_î

  • What stops the rats from biting the hand?

  • @Horicert

    Excellent question, well wild rats probably will bite yes..

    Tame rats though have been for very long living with us humans. Being fed and taken care off and due to that they are used to humans. A tame rat will almost never bite, well maybe if you corner it or hurt it. But tame rats are very social and intelligent and also very social to people. Yes indeed they see you as a Super Rat. 

  • I love when they start bruxing and giving 'boggle eyes'

  • Where can I get a job tickling rats for a living?

  • @abracadaverous when you get a master or phd in Biology.

  • @abracadaverous Lab animal technician!

  • I would love to hear my rats "laugh" XD And I have noticed one of my rats REALLY enjoys being tickled.... she runs off and comes back every time :3

  • I think people who do 'research' on rats need to be researched on themselves.

  • @animalliberation0961 Its not about the rats. Its about understanding ancient laughter centers of the brain and how it connects to humans. Rats are just easy to work with for scientists. Please, lets not judge. So what if the man likes rats, they;re cute!

  • @ChesterGreeneMusic

    I think you mistook my words. I'm referring to the many, many soulless, egomaniacal researchers, who torment, maim, sicken and murder other animals (especially rodents) in the name of science. IMO, other animals should never have to suffer vivisection for any reason, and the people who perpetuate this atrocity should suffer the same fate. I don't have any problem with anyone tickling rats...As long as they are kind to them...And you're definitely right they are cute.

  • @animalliberation0961 I am sorry I did misunderstand you. I think i have to agree with you when testing is done on the basis of researching cosmetics or other superfluous things. But when it comes to biomedical research, experimenting on rodents and other animals is the logical and safe thing to do. And without animal test subject we have 0 biomedical research.

  • so.fucking.cute.

  • My life is complete.

  • HeeHee!:P

  • how many houndreds of thousands of dollars did we use to find this info out.

  • @MrShaners80 this video waters their research down for a general audience, i looked the guy up and he has probably written a thousand or more pages of published research papers and books in the last decade.

  • @wegladlyperish wow. you've got some hate towards this issue. I hope you're thinking of an alternative to animal testing. because i'm not down to stop all biological advancement. Everything needs to be tested on a similar organism before tested on humans. Better a rat dies in the process of curing polio than a bunch of kids... or polio not being cured and thus more people dieing. and ofcoarse you think you know what your talking about, thats what psychologists are.

  • @chewbacca06 you're right (concerning hate, hope and your dissent,

    but i see a problem in the way animal experiments are justified nowadays: the argument "it will or it could help a human some day" justifies nearly every animal test that is possible (especially in basic-research). and the way in which there is talked and written about these tests shows that there is so much scorn of life and so much carelessness regarding this issue. the vid makes a wrong impression (the comments show this)

  • @chewbacca06 ..and i said that i know what i'm talking of because i visited lectures and read about it while studying - so i got an idea what tests psychologists and neuroscientists do and what they aim at, and therefore i hope i don't criticize from a distant and naive point of view. i didn't want to appear arrogant, i just wanted to say i've heard a lot of things about it from the direct source. the tests mentioned in the video were also object of a lecture that i visited.

  • you think these rats are "treated nicely"? what the fuck!?

    these rats are USED as lab-rats.

    these rats are held in small cages.

    they will be killed after the test - this is a standard-procedure in science.

    do you think that a neuroscientist using rats will ever care for these beings?

    he would ruthless destroy this rats life without batting an eyelid, if this rat became useless for him!

    i think i know what i'm talking of - i'm studying psychology.

    animal experiments are cruel!

  • @wegladlyperish Your very correct. When they did an experiment on monkeys by pumping Marijuana smoke into their mouths without any oxygen they killed dozens of helpless monkeys. I too worry for the concern of the rats but one of the important things to consider is that this may affect the way humans treat rodents. If an animal can laugh and cry humans tend to look at them in a more moral manner. Some of my friends hated rats before I told them they cried when they were lonely.

  • @MonakoSM Rats are dirty vermin. The epitomy historically of dirty vermin. Until the little bastards stop eating my rawhide tack and grain they are just food for the barn cats as far as I'm concerned.

    Now cats are truly an important partner to civilization. Don't you like cats? Or are they cruel, evil meat eaters to you? Every gutted carcass of a rat or gopher is a trophy to feline excellence!

  • @rlaycock You can think about whatever you want over them but I do not consider them dirty we are. They only became dirty because they adapted to living in human environments where we dump our garbage and such. A forest rat is actually very clean. Still none the less if you feel that way its your personal opinion and I adore cats. ^ ^

  • @rlaycock Your logic is flawed. If rats are dirty vermin, why do so many people have them for pets? If rats are dirty than more people who have rats as pets would be sick all the time. If rats are dirty than they would be outlawed as pets due to health reasons. You have no facts and therefor your statement is flawed and inaccurate. Now if you were to say some wild rats are dirty I would agree.

  • @rlaycock only wild rats are dirty because of the environments they are forced to live in ,we create the dirt they live in it as natural habitats would be overwhelmed by thier population, because we take up much of the land. and cats arent that great, they also kill small birds and have become the reson for some bird species to decline , they dont eat thier kills, and they usually arent as loyal as a dog

  • @rlaycock CATS ARE VERMIN I had to kill three stray cats BASTARDS, dirty rabid bastards.

  • i cant wait to get my rats :D

  • "Ok, time for the next experiment... hand me that hammer"

    Kidding :D

  • And my toast looks like the virgin mary

  • Wonderful video, I really love it. My does used to love to be tickled and played with, they'd always come running for more.

  • Awwwwwwwwww! :D

  • God damn. This is the cutest thing ever.

  • Geez...what's with all the fuss about religion in the comments...THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE VIDEO ABOUT TICKLING RATS, nothing more. If you feel the need to discuss controversies, go somewhere else please. Do us all a favor.

    PS-Rats are so adorable. best rodent pets you could possibly get.

  • That is so cute

  • Rats are cool. So glad to see such a great living environment, thumbs up! Canæt wait for my rats:)

  • OH MY GOD :D

    I have to tickle my rat! XD

  • I donno if its laughter.... but still pretty cool and rats are really cute

  • @MochizMuM looks like laughter

  • holy shit

  • Aww, this is so adorable. I wonder if hamsters like it too..hmm...

  • I think it is terribly funny how a video about tickling a rat turned into a very drawn out argument about the big bang theory and evolution. Honestly it's just a cute little rat making cute little sounds. And as for everyone and the plague, THIS rat didn't spread it. The fact that the rat is mellow enough for him to tickle it is awe inspiring. My rats have been pretty hyper. I only had one who play tag and hide and seek. So please if you want to rant find a forum.

  • Comment removed

  • That is too damn cute, Makes me miss my Ratty Rat...he passed away a week ago...l want to get more Rattys later on :) so me and my kids can love them just like our Ratty Rat :) (we had him for 3 lovely years of enjoymemt)

  • cool coz I laugh when I'm tickled as well. Like a rat! :P lol

  • @elementsk8punk

    Sounds like you have wild rats. I think you should have looked up "exterminating WILD rats" instead of commenting on a video called "Rats laugh when you tickle them."

    We love our rats :)

  • aah this is adorable!<3

    excuse me, i need to go tickle my rat ;^;

  • Ferrets also laugh when you play with them. It is the same sound they make when playing amongst themselves.

  • Domesticated rats laugh?

    Tickling rats makes them LIKE you?

    Would tickling make ME happy?

    And so concidentally a passive scientific observation took place, behold my tickling machine to supplement the hugging machine devised by Temple Grandin! nay we will fuse and make the ultimate stress reliever:

    The CompassionateTron Hugging and tickling mechanism.

  • Rats are amazing pets, I have 2 of my own plus a litter of babies.

  • Thats so cute :D

  • Glad to see some research that does not kill animals.. it is cute how they laugh!

  • wierd...thats exactly how i laugh...

  • I asked my rat if he liked to be tickled, he just looked at me like I was speaking another language. I must have got a stupid rat.

  • when i do this to my rats, and you listen REALLY closely, you can here it, not so loud, but, you can ;D

  • Such a cute video. Just angers me so much to know that there are many close-minded jerkasses who see rats as an abomination in the natural world.

  • I like that they studied this for a few years instead of like curing some diseases or something. :P

    It's k though, cause it's cute.

  • @HereComesTreble3 Lol there are a bunch of a scientist in the world and they don't all study the same thing o3o Just because someone studies science doesn't necessarily mean they also study disease~ The people who study animals and sickness are completely different fields o3o

  • How did they test to see the enjoyment?

  • @wideheadofknowledge

    Geeh let me see given a rat free choice to either go to you or go away from you. Them coming to you to get tickled.. probably means they like it!

  • so cute

  • Really interesting research. What's with all the religious stuff? Seems irrelevant to the video.

  • @motionjunkie

    Lol, people feel like religion just has to be mentioned on every video on youtube, regardless of its content -.-

  • just more proof that rats are animals just like humans that enjoy a tickle and sweet treatment, all animals deserve this all the time

  • @sempercras

    Aperantly you ahve never loved or been loved by an animal.

    God made Aden and Eve the cartakers of all that lives on the earth.

    Have you never seen news reals where an dog saves a humans life,

    or protects a human, to the point of losing its own life.

    Do you think that dog did not care for or love its master

    I agree we need to put God first in our lifes.

    But remember God also made the animals too.

  • @sempercras Rats are animals & I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't categorize animals.

  • @sempercras I'm pretty sure you should learn how to spell because when you have an incredible amount of typos you look like an idiot. Secondly, validate your argument, the Bible doesn't say that Jesus hated animals. The religious argument is that animals don't have souls, which if you have ever had an animal in your life is pretty difficult to agree with. God says to love all of the creatures he created. Including rats. Being kind to a lesser being reflects your character and heart.

  • @sempercras GOD is evil. if I ever meet him I will put a nuke up his ass. So forget god and lets enjoy the laughing rats :-)

  • @sempercras Rats and animals are obviously on the same level...and stop making this about religion and enjoy the laughing rats

  • @bootskaboots Rats are animals...

  • @SuperFrankNStein That's the point I was trying to get across...sorry for any inconvenience, my brain has been turned off because of break...yep, not much thinking for me!

  • @SuperFrankNStein Meh. I meant other animals. Either that or when I typed that I was so out of it that I was convinced that rats are some superhuman being. Oh well.

  • @sempercras they see me trollin', they hatin'!

  • Ummmm Ganesha loves rats. :) therefore your arguments are invalid. Like the opinions of children and hookers and people that wear suits and say they come from the internet! Just kidding. Hey at least this has not turned into an antigay comment field! so YAY

  • You see? THIS is why we fund science!

  • I think any rat owner could tell you they love to play cx

  • They are precious!

  • I've played this four times in a row just to listen to the rat laughing. How cute!

  • aww now i want to play with a rat x3

  • It's so cute to see lab rats being treated nicely!!!

  • @urethaneunicorn Yeah, for once. :D

  • @urethaneunicorn I know right! I just love to have htem be treated NICLEY for once!

  • My god is better than your god.

  • We humans underestimate other animal's intelligence and give ourselves the right to slaughter and use these beautiful creatures as mere objects. And there we err, we greatly err.

  • coool! hab ich im buch von christoph koch "ich bin dann mal offline" gelesen

  • I'd like to see the CV of this guy: Ph.D in neuroscience, sound wave spectrum specialist, audio software developer, rat tickler.

  • does anyone know what this mans name is?? if you do please tell me because i need to know for a science video critique thats due at the end of the quarter for my science class...thanks!!!

  • @fluffysnow16 it tell u at the beginning dont it

  • @Duncanshakes i didn't see that at first. then i watched it again and saw it. i just forgot to erase my comment.

  • those are happy rats as a rat owner its obvious they are enjoying chasing his hand my rats do it and if they dont want you to do something they will bite simple as

  • those are happy rats as a rat owner its obvious they are enjoying chasing his hand my rats do it and if they dont want you to do something they will bite simple ass

  • cool... but my rat run AWAY from the hand when i do that :S

  • My rat absolutely loves being tickled. He always looks so sad when I stop. Looks at me with those cute little eyes... How can people not like rats?!

  • @DanyelleKA during cold weather my house is field with rats and we have to kill them or end up sick so i grew to hate them untill i started wondering if rats can make good pets cause we apparently have plenty here and to my surprise there where A LOT of people with pet rats (i wonder if you can make pets out of wild rats and mice that be cool). but thats why most people hate rats they never get to see many as well groomed pets if they did it might change most of peoples opinions.

  • @ruzzzler Rats make EXCELLENT pets! They're highly intelligent (they can learn their names, commands and you can teach them tricks too!). I've always had pet rats until very recently. People are generally surprised at what clean animals they are. Even wild rats spend a ridiculous amount of time grooming each other, it's because of their habitats in the wild that people consider them dirty. If you're thinking about getting some as pets, message me, I've been a rat owner for ten years off and on!

  • Share your ideas with single mom naneedj.info

  • Rat tickling. It's the new cat paddling. 

  • @RazorRabidz lol at your anger

  • @RazorRabidz Are you retarded? If they were going to attack his hand, they would have done it in less than a second. They LIKED it, you fucking moron.

  • @wajalama jesus christ u freaking moron. Where you dropped as a baby? Or are you just too retarded to understand sarcasm?

    I fucking know that the mice wouldnt attack his hand u twat.

  • @RazorRabidz OH, JESUS. I'm sooo sorry i don't have a FUCKING SARCASM DETECTOR installed on my Youtube account. *sarcasm*

    Seriously, just shut the fuck up and let the normal people type. Why don't you read over your previous comment and decide if there was any hint of sarcasm in it, hmm? I don't think so.