Like a human being...Rats also give first aid with their mouths to their fallen colleagues
Mar 04, 2025
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Researchers at the University of Southern California in the United States recently published the results of the mouse 'Emergency Measures' experiment in the international journal 'Science'.
The researchers observed anesthetized mice and normal mice in one space, and found that normal mice pulled out the tongue of the immobile mice to secure airways and bite around their mouths. It was similar to the human mouth-to-mouth ventilation scene.
It was also observed that the tongue was continuously pulled or pushed by the head.
The researchers said the mice's behavior lasted an average of 13 minutes, about half of which was used to wake up their anesthetized colleagues.
These 'first aid' from rats actually helped the anesthetized rats recover.
The first-aid mice recovered their consciousness faster than the other anesthetized mice.
The researchers explained that "when mice saw their unconscious companions, they would have released oxytocin hormones needed for social bonding" and that "helping unresponsive group members may be a natural behavior that is widespread among social animals"."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
