Mice Display Instinctual First Aid Behaviors

A groundbreaking study has revealed that mice display human-like first aid behaviors, attempting to resuscitate unconscious peers through actions such as clearing airways and performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Researchers from the University of Southern California and other institutions noted these behaviors were instinctual and linked to the release of oxytocin, reminiscent of human emergency responses. The study observed that conscious mice engaged in sequential acts of care, starting with sniffing and grooming and escalating to direct interventions like pulling the tongue to clear airways. This behavior was more pronounced among familiar mice and not influenced by social reciprocity. The findings suggest that the impulse to aid others in distress extends beyond humans to other social animals, comparable to behaviors seen in elephants, chimpanzees, and dolphins. These results shed new light on the social instincts of rodents and their capability to perform life-saving actions naturally.