Rat Experiment

Rats were used in a University of Washington fetal alcohol experiment. The rats looked normal, but one group had been exposed to alcohol before birth. Whenever they instinctively entered the dark area of their cage, the rats would receive an electrical shock.

Counter to their instincts, the normal rats learned to remain in the light portion of the cage. But the fetal alcohol-exposed rats continually re-entered the dark area.

They repeated this cycle of shock-and-flee until the researchers stopped the experiment. Rats in the fetal alcohol-exposed group could not control their impulses or learn from experience despite negative consequences.

I thought of Sandy, shrugging, telling me she’d walked on the sprayed lawn because she wanted to. Sandy, climbing into a boy’s bedroom window, saying she wanted to have sex. Sandy, asking me if I’d ever heard of a klepto, sobbing that she couldn’t get “no relief” until she stole. Sandy jumping out of second story windows. Sandy setting fires. Sandy taking drugs. We had no idea she acted on impulse because she had brain damage. If only we had.