Rats may be smarter than we give them credit for. In a recent experiment at the University of Richmond in Virginia, a group of them mastered the art of operating a tiny car in exchange for Froot Loops. Scientists built a “rat-operated vehicle” (ROV) out of a plastic container on wheels; inside, the rats could press a wire that triggered the motor. After some training, the critters could move the ROV and change direction with ease. The experiment showed that rats are capable of handling more complex tasks than we realize. But researchers also learned something even more interesting: Driving helped lower the rats’ stress levels, likely because it gave them a sense of control, says study lead Kelly Lambert. The researchers hope that the results of the experiment will lead to a better understanding of stress, anxiety, and depression in humans. “Although humans are more complex than rats,” Lambert says, “we look for ‘universal truths’ about how brains interact with environments to maintain optimal mental health.”