This video shows how these mice perform first aid on each other [19459004]

Most of us took a class in first aid in school. It is a skill that can be used in an emergency situation where unconscious people need immediate help. The training involves assessing the scene, checking vitals, calling for assistance, and performing CPR if needed. Although the technical skills of first-aid need to be learned and practiced by everyone, it is a deeply ingrained instinct in humans to assist others who are in trouble. We’re not the only ones: In non-laboratory settings, various animal species were also observed to touch, groom, nudge, or strike unresponsive peers. Anecdotal data was not enough to prove that animals would naturally act in such a way in an emergency. Scientists from Keck School of medicine at University of Southern California, after accidentally observing first-aid behavior among mice, conducted an experiment under controlled conditions and published their findings in Science. The findings indicate that helping their fellow mice in distress can increase the chances of survival and reinforce social bonds.

Mouse Response to Emergencies.

Wenjian sun, the first author of the study and research associate at Keck School observed unexpectedly this behavior during an unrelated experimental. Sun said in a release that the behavior is unique because it’s similar to human behavior in an emergency. I hadn’t seen mice behave like this before.

A follow-up research study examined this trait, showing that mice tend to assist unconscious colleagues. Rodents rescued by their peers were able to help them in a variety of ways, from gently sniffing or grooming the anesthetized mice to biting the mouth or tongue. (See video.)

When approaching an unconscious companion, the “helper mouse” showed a strong sense of urgency. They helped the recovery process by adjusting their mouths and tongues. The tongue-pulling was never an aggressive act, and was only observed rarely when the partner was asleep or awake. The behavior appears to be intentional, and is only observed in situations of perceived urgency. What is the impact of stress on listening?

The Mice Don’t Listen as Well.

Inducing empathy

Researchers noted that rescue efforts between familiar mice were greater than those of strangers. They studied paraventricular nucleus of helper mice, which is a brain region involved in oxytocin production, bonding, and stress responses. The researchers used optogenetics, which allows scientists to control neural activity using light-sensitive proteins. They found that activating neurons that respond to oxytocin encouraged rescue behaviors even in mice that were unfamiliar. Blocking these neurons decreased the first aid-like behavior among pairs of familiar mice. This study is the first to show that oxytocin signals are essential for revival behavior in mice. Li Zhang is the principal investigator of the study and a professor at Keck School who specializes in physiology, neuroscience, and social behavior. According to Zhang, many factors affect empathetic behaviors and the formation of bonds between mammals. According to the study, reciprocal support during high-stress conditions may increase survival in animals and strengthen social bonds. This is similar to what humans do. The findings of

not only advance our understanding of animal behaviors, but also highlight the critical role that the oxytocin systems plays in encouraging prosocial behavior. The research could help improve the treatment of animals and their appreciation by showing similarities in animal behavior and human behaviors.

Learn more: Do Animals Fall In Love?

The sources used for this article are listed below:

• Science: Reviving-like prosocial behavior in response to unconscious or dead conspecifics in rodents

• ScienceDirect – Optogenetics

Jenny has worked as a biomedical research assistant for over ten years, translating complex scientific concepts into engaging and accessible content. Check out the following sources for the article:

• Reviving-like behavior prosocial in response to unconscious conspecifics or dead rodents.

• ScienceDirect: Optogenetics.

Jenny has worked in laboratories in three different countries as a research assistant. She excels at translating scientific concepts into accessible, engaging content. She is interested in topics like human evolution, psychology and bizarre animal stories. You can find her surfing or riding her longboard around Vancouver Island when she is not reading a science book.

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