The rats were trained to press a button that triggered a camera attached to their cage. ECAL/Augustin LignierAs the two rats — which Lignier named Augustin and Arthur, after himself and his brother — began exploring their new environment, they would randomly touch the button that gave them sugar, Lignier said. ECAL/Augustin LignierTheir antics produced a series of selfies, some of which appeared as if they’d been shot against a clean, white background. Giving randomized rewards in return for taking selfies mirrored the tactics used by social media companies and dating apps to keep users coming back, Lignier said. “I was fascinated by this.”After spending a few days taking selfies, the pet rats went to live with Lignier’s mother in Arles, southern France, until they died and were buried in her back garden.

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Persons: Augustin Lignier, Lignier, ” Lignier, Augustin Lignier “, Skinner, B.F, Augustin, Arthur, —, ECAL, they’d, “ Organizations: CNN Locations: France, Arles