Scientists identify pathway that triggers mice to scratch when they see others do the same
Federal surveys missing as many as 43% of individuals with disabilities, study finds
4 October 2022Topical antibiotics shorten duration of conjunctival symptoms
4 October 2022Scientists identify pathway that triggers mice to scratch when they see others do the same
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a pathway in the brains of mice that is activated when the animals see other mice scratching. The researchers had previously reported that the urge to scratch an itch after seeing other mice scratching is hardwired in the brain. Now they have found that this so-called “contagious itching” is controlled through a visual pathway, that surprisingly, operates independently of the visual cortex, the area of the brain that processes visual information.
