Oxytocin pathways in the brain fuel spontaneous helping behavior in mice

Oxytocin pathways in the brain fuel spontaneous helping behavior in mice

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has revealed that mice spontaneously help unconscious peers recover from anesthesia through grooming and licking behaviors. These actions, which occur without training or external rewards, not only speed up the recovery of the anesthetized mice but also appear to reduce the emotional stress of the helping mice. The research identifies two distinct brain pathways—both re…