3. Escalation to Forceful Actions: Biting and Tongue Pulling
As gentle grooming fails to revive their unconscious companions, mice escalate their responses in surprising ways.
Researchers at the University of Southern California observed that mice begin to bite at the mouth and even tug persistently on the tongues of their unresponsive peers.
These forceful, targeted actions are not random—they are highly stereotyped and repeated, indicating a dedicated attempt to stimulate revival rather than mere agitation or aggression.