Over the past decade, numerous psychologists and neuroscientists have struggled to determine whether it is possible for a rat to show signs of sympathetic emotions towards another. These studies have not necessarily been successful until late 2011 when Jean Decety, Peggy Mason, and other neurologists of the University Of Chicago have been able to prove that empathy in rats is indeed possible.

Over the decades many others who have attempted to solve the mystery of empathy and altruism in non primate mammals, a feat that few believe to be possible. These studies and experiments have all failed, however these failures and mistakes have given scientists a way to improve upon these mistakes.

With further research and variations within this field, not only would we be able understand even more about behavioral aspects of rodents, but scientists could also be able to compare the behavioral differences between those of the rats and humans. If done correctly, this could very well lead to major advancements in the medical aspects of psychology as well as neuroscience.

By recreating this experiment that has been conducted at the university with different variables, it may be also be possible to further expand on what is already known and the gap between what is known about the minds of humans and rodents would decrease in size, allowing even more expansion within the medical field.

This is the general idea for my agriculture project which I will begin working on in a few weeks. What do you think?