A Photographer Trained Two Mice to Take Selfies

Parisian photographer Augustin Lignier, asked himself a very basic question during his training: Why are so many of us so inclined to take and share photos? The question itself wasn’t very creative, but Lignier came up with an interesting way to answer it. a photo booth for mice built it.

The mice continued to take selfies without caring about the reward they would receive after a while

In the past B.F. Skinner The behavioral scientist created a test ring to examine learning behavior in mice. This box was called the Skinner box, and its purpose was to teach mice certain behaviors by rewarding them with food. Lignier followed a similar approach.

In Lignier’s version, there is a tower inside a transparent tower. camera was placed. Each time they pressed the camera shutter, the mice received a small amount of candy and could see their photos on the screen of the system. (Lignier does not think the mice understand these photographs.) After a while, rewards although it is given only occasionally The mice continued to photograph themselves, sometimes even ignoring the reward food.

Humans may be no different from mice

In Skinner learning box experiments, animals education after the process is completed They aim to get food again by repeating the same learned behaviors. According to Lignier, digital and social media companies are taking a similar approach. The possibility of an occasional like, comment or romantic relationship makes people addicted to their phones. Social media in the past “modern man’s Skinner box” It was called.