Driving rats, Saskatoon raccoons, and our own brainsDriving rats, Saskatoon raccoons, and our own brains
People First Radio
Scientists often use animals to help us learn about ourselves. One important thing to keep in mind when studying lab rats, is, well the fact that they’re in a lab – and not their natural environment. What’s the impact of that? Kelly Lambert is a pr
23:51•12 Sept 2022
Brain Boosters: How Environment Shapes Our Minds with Kelly Lambert
“If enriched environments enhance, you know, our recovery of function or learning ability, can we test this?”
Ever wondered how your surroundings might be shaping your brain? In this episode of People First Radio, Kelly Lambert, a professor of behavioural neuroscience at the University of Richmond, takes us on a journey through her fascinating research. She explores how the environment impacts lab rats and what this could mean for our own cognitive functions.
Lambert's studies reveal that when lab rats are given more complex and enriched environments, their brains develop thicker areas and show increased levels of neurochemicals linked to learning and memory. This sparks an intriguing question: Is our modern environment limiting our brain's potential? Are we, in a way, 'domesticating' our cognitive abilities? Lambert also shares her unique research on raccoons, highlighting their potential as models for studying impulsivity.
If you're curious about how the spaces we inhabit influence our minds, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in for an engaging discussion that bridges animal studies and human psychology, offering insights that might just change the way you think about your own environment.
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