Researchers have discovered that mice will administer “first-aid” to their unconscious friends, including licking faces and pulling at tongues to revive them. The study found that the more aggressive grooming behaviors were seen in mice that had spent more time with the mouse in need of help, resulting in a faster recovery.
The scientists observed that the mice would spend around 47% of their interaction time with an unconscious partner, increasing the intensity of the grooming over time. This behavior was also detected without visual cues, indicating that the mice could recognize their companion’s unresponsiveness and initiate grooming even in the dark.
Further research revealed that the release of oxytocin – a hormone associated with social bonding and trust – played a crucial role in driving this behavior. The study provides evidence of instinctive emergency responses in animals to revive unconscious partners, and it is unclear why mice exhibit this behavior.
This discovery adds to the growing list of species observed exhibiting altruistic behaviors, including dolphins, elephants, and non-human primates.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/mice-administer-first-aid-to-friends-even-trying-to-bring-the-dead-back-to-life