Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that mice exhibit empathetic behavior when helping injured friends, similar to humans in emergency responses. A study published recently in Science found that mice will gently sniff and groom their unconscious peers before taking more forceful actions such as mouth or tongue biting.
The study, led by Li Zhang of the Keck School of Medicine, used advanced neural imaging and optogenetics to investigate the neural mechanisms behind the social behaviors of “helper mice”. They discovered the activation of oxytocin neuropeptides, a hormone associated with feelings of trust and bonding, in the brains of these mice.
The researchers found that the behavior was most pronounced among familiar pairs of mice and was rarely seen when one of the paired mice was simply sleeping or active. After the unconscious mouse regained consciousness, they had regular use of their tongue, suggesting that the behavior was not aggressive but rather a form of social support.
This study highlights the critical role of oxytocin in social bonding across vertebrate species and opens exciting new ways to study the biological foundations of prosocial behaviors, including empathy. Further research is needed to fully understand this complex behavior, but it suggests that many social animals, including humans, may have evolved to help each other in critical situations, improving survival chances and strengthening social bonds.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250308/Mice-demonstrate-first-responder-like-behavior-toward-injured-companions.aspx