Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have discovered neural mechanisms behind prosocial behaviors in mice directed toward unresponsive conspecifics. The study found that mice exhibit paramedic-like behaviors, such as head-directed grooming, towards sedated peers, which facilitates their recovery.
Unlike humans, there is limited documentation of similar behaviors in nonhuman species. However, the researchers used male and female mice to assess responses to conspecifics under unresponsive sedation induced by dexmedetomidine. Behavioral assays revealed that mice spent more time engaging in intense physical contact and grooming, particularly targeting the facial and mouth areas.
The study showed that mice favored interacting with unresponsive conspecifics over awake ones, even when visual cues were absent. This was confirmed through three-chamber preference tests, which demonstrated that mice preferred interacting with unresponsive individuals over awake partners.
Further analysis using neural activity recordings via microendoscopic calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulations pinpointed the MeA as a critical neural substrate. The study found that MeA neurons differentiated between awake and sedated partners at both single-cell and population levels, suggesting a key role in detecting specific adverse states of others.
The findings offer insights into neural circuits underlying more general prosocial animal behaviors. Understanding how mice detect and respond to unresponsive individuals could have implications for understanding human behavior and developing novel treatments for neurological disorders.
References:
Fangmiao Sun et al, A neural basis for prosocial behavior toward unresponsive individuals, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adq2679
Wenjian Sun et al, Reviving-like prosocial behavior in response to unconscious or dead conspecifics in rodents, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adq2677
William M. Sheeran et al, An innate drive to save a life, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adv3731
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-mice-paramedic-behaviors-unresponsive-peers.html