Rats, Like (Some) People, Obey the Law of Quid Pro Quo

Image: Flickr/Tatiana BulyonkovaLike most animals that thrive in cities, rats get a bad rap. We even use the word "rat" for nasty people, particularly those that go behind your back. But this study suggests that rat society may not be so bad after all. By placing rats in special cages that allow them to give food only to another rat (not themselves), these researchers found that rats will trade grooming for help with getting food. In fact, the more help they got, the more grooming they gave. Maybe it's time to update the old idiom: "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine... or hook me up with some chow."Reciprocal Trading of Different Commodities in Norway Rats. "The prevalence of reciprocal cooperation in non-human animals is hotly debated. Part of this dispute rests on the assumption that reciprocity means paying like with like. However, exchanges between social partners may involve ...