RAT TICKLED QUIZ

What are the two central ideas in the article you read?

• Scientists have demonstrated that rats let out giggles when they are tickled. Scientists once thought the effects of gargalesis were limited to highly intelligent, social species such as humans and other primates.

• Scientists have demonstrated that rats let out giggles when they are tickled. This was accomplished by tickling young males on the trunk region of the body.

• A new study aims to reveal more about what happens in the brain during tickling. Scientists now understand that humans and rats are both ticklish on their feet.

• A new study aims to reveal more about what happens in the brain during tickling. By tickling rats, scientists have shown a linked response to tickling and play.

What word means "intense, laughter-inducing tickling"?

• garget

• garganeys

• gargoyle

• gargalesis

What part of the brain responds to tactile information such as touch, pain, temperature and pressure?

• olfactory cortex

• gustatory cortex

• somatosensory cortex

• primary motor cortex

Where are young male rats the most ticklish?

• bellies and backs and bottoms of their feet

• bellies

• backs

• bottoms of their feet and bellies

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

What animals display "joy jumps"?

• rats

• most mammals

• birds

• reptiles

Why would some rats no longer giggle during tickling?

• Rats were tickled until their skin was irritated.

• Rats became anxious under bright lights.

• Only females rats don't giggle.

• Rats didn't giggle during "play" time.

What do the scientist hypothesize about the link between tickling and play?

• It totally depends on their mood.

• Because the rats feel good during both tickling and during play.

• Tickling is a trick of the brain to make animals interact with each other to increase change of survival.

• Touching is important in animals and not just humans.

The researchers determined that the rats giggled at what frequency?

• 20Hz

• 20KHz

• 50KHz

• 70Hz

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Rats emit high frequency calls at other times besides when being tickled. What are they?

• around other rats or given food

• anxious

• moody

• afraid

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-8

How do the researchers know that the rats liked being tickled? Check the answer that is NOT correct.

• looked for the hand when not being tickled

• frequency of their calls

• began feeding

• chased the researchers hand