Is your thing for shoes something you’re born with… or something you learn? Rats might actually have a first answer. Let’s get into the real question: If you have a thing for shoes… is that something you’re born with — or something you picked up over time? Back in 2014, two researchers — Jim Pfaus and Gonzalo Quintana Zunino — both neuroscientists and psychologists at Concordia University in Montreal, presented a fascinating rat experiment at a conference in Washington. So what did they actually test? They wanted to understand how libido-related preferences for clothing — like lingerie — develop. And more importantly: can those preferences be learned? Here’s what they did: They allowed inexperienced male rats to mate with female rats… but the females were wearing little jackets. Later on, the males were given a choice: females with jackets… or without. The result? Clear preference. The male rats overwhelmingly chose the ones wearing jackets. They made more attempts to mate ...