It's not just people who use virtual reality (VR) equipment.

Chinese scientists have invented a VR platform for mice, according to a new study. The six-screen setup with virtual environments is designed to study how rodents think. The study is the latest in a growing body of research into whether VR with animals can unlock their secrets and even help them live happier lives.

“VR can help reduce stress in livestock by providing them with a calming environment that mimics their natural habitat,” veterinarian Sophie Whoriskey told Lifewire in an email interview.

VR may also improve chicken health, according to researchers at Iowa State University. The scientists simulated a free-range environment in egg-laying hen houses. The scientists found that showing VR scenes of chickens in more “natural” environments reduced stress indicators in the chickens’ blood and gut flora. The VR scenes also caused biochemical changes related to increased resistance to E. coli, a bacterium that poses health risks to poultry and people who eat contaminated eggs.