Scientists have observed an extraordinary act of empathy in mice, as they appear to provide first aid to their unconscious mates. A new study reveals that when encountering an unresponsive companion, mice attempt to wake them up by touching, grooming, and even pulling their tongues—a behavior similar to how humans clear airways.
Li Zhang, a researcher at the University of Southern California, conducted experiments to understand how mice react to unconscious peers. In the study, caged mice were introduced to a sedated companion. Researchers observed that the awake mice spent nearly half of 13 minutes attending to the unresponsive ones.
“They start with sniffing, and then grooming, and then with a very intensive or physical interaction,” says Zhang. “They really open the mouth of this animal and pull out its tongue.”
Mice also licked their companion’s eyes, a behavior commonly seen in grooming. The tongue-pulling action was observed in over 50% of the trials, indicating a consistent response pattern.
Further testing confirms empathy through first aid
To test whether this behavior was intentional, Zhang and his team placed harmless plastic balls inside the mouths of sedated mice. In 80% of the cases, the awake mouse removed the object, demonstrating a clear attempt to assist its companion.
Researchers also noted a change in behavior after the sedated mice regained consciousness. The attending mouse stopped its caregiving efforts once the other mouse became responsive. Interestingly, mice that received care from a companion woke up and moved faster than those left alone.
The next time you’re on 4Chan and you see another horrendous video of Chinese people callously leaving a child to die in the street, just remember that mice exhibit “paramedic-like” behaviours to their unresponsive friends to try and wake them up. pic.twitter.com/v9q4yuyfMY
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) February 25, 2025
Additionally, researchers found that mice spent more time assisting individuals they were familiar with, suggesting a social bond may influence their caregiving actions.
The results align with recent findings from two other independent research teams. Cristina Márquez, a neuroscientist at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology in Portugal, said she had not previously observed such behaviors in lab experiments.
“The fact that three independent laboratories have observed similar behaviors indicates that this is a robust finding. However, we should be really careful about anthropomorphizing too much what we observe in non-human species or attributing intentions that go beyond what is observed,” Márquez told New Scientist.
Brain activity suggests a natural care response
Neurological data from the study revealed that the mice’s caregiving behavior was linked to a release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and empathy. Activity was detected in the amygdala and thalamus, brain regions responsible for social and emotional responses.
Zhang compared the mice’s actions to how people use smelling salts or light slaps to wake someone up. He noted that clearing airways is a basic first step in helping an unconscious individual.
The study challenges previous assumptions about animal caregiving, suggesting that even small mammals may have instinctive responses to help others in distress. Researchers believe these findings could lead to a deeper understanding of social behaviors across different species.
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