A new study shows that mice help their friends who are unconscious. This suggests that helping others is part of our animal nature.
The scientists saw brain activity in areas that control automatic functions. They also noticed that hormones increased during this helping behavior.
Mice use a method called tongue-pulling to help. This action opens the airway of their unconscious friend, helping them wake up faster. The researchers found that familiar mice were more likely to help each other than unknown mice.
In 50% of the cases, the awake mice pulled the tongues of their unresponsive friends to help them. These mice woke up and moved around quicker than those left alone.
In most cases, the helper mice also removed objects from the mouths of their unconscious friends. However, they did not help when the friends were just sleeping or when other objects were placed in different areas.
This study shows that many animals, including mice, have a natural instinct to help others in trouble.
Vocabulary List:
- Instinct /ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/ (noun): An innate typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli.
- Unconscious /ʌnˈkɒnʃəs/ (adjective): Not awake and aware of and responding to one’s environment.
- Hormones /ˈhɔːrmoʊnz/ (noun): Chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs.
- Behavior /bɪˈheɪvjər/ (noun): The way in which one acts or conducts oneself especially towards others.
- Responsive /rɪˈspɒnsɪv/ (adjective): Reacting quickly and positively to a stimulus.
- Automatic /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ (adjective): Working by itself with little or no direct human control.
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