Rat Basketball

She shoots, she scores!

Where:
Barbara Thalhimer Theater
Tickets:
Included with Admission
Age:
All Ages
Length:
30 minutes

Come meet our players and learn all about operant and classical conditioning as you watch two rats play basketball – no, we aren’t kidding. Check our daily schedule for demonstrations occurring during your visit.

The Museum uses classical and operant conditioning to train the rat players.

  • Classical conditioning is teaching the rats to respond to the buzzer used to in training. The buzzer sounds when the rat has done something correct
  • Operant conditioning is rewarding the rats for taking the correct action – during the game they get a treat for each basket.
A rat putting a black ball through a hoop.
A rat on a basketball court.
Support the Rat Basketball Association

Whiskered players pick up a small plastic ball and put it through a basketball hoop.