Also, I think they understated the impact that the stress of the high intensity interval training simulation would have. Imagine being stuck in a room where the floor below you was moving, at random intervals of walking pace and sprinting pace, with no warning. It would be unbelievably stressful.
The psychological impact of that, versus getting the same type of exercise from playing basketball, seems like it would be hugely different.
How would you test this hypothesis? With a non-physical mental stimuation? Multi-colored paper confetti in the cage, or laser-light shows, to give the rats something to play with?
