E183: Freeze or run? How does a mouse’s brain react? [SJK Audio Edition]

E183: Freeze or run? How does a mouse’s brain react? [SJK Audio Edition]

From SJK Audio Edition by Science Journal for Kids

March 1, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

Scientists studied the differing reactions of two species of mice when faced with a predator threat.

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/freeze-or-run-how-does-a-mouses-brain-react/ or watch at: https://youtu.be/Ab-0692xpL4 Summary : Scientists studied why similar species of mice either run or freeze when faced with the same predator. Abstract : What would your first reaction be if you saw a lion in the wild? You might not even think about it before you start to back away. Your response to a lion might be very different from encountering a chimpanzee. So, what controls these different responses? To find out, we used two related species of mice that live in different habitats. We showed the mice a fake predator threat and then watched their behavior. We looked at the activity in a part of the brain called the escape center. Then, we turned the escape center on and off. We saw that one species of mouse froze, but the other ran away when threatened. Our findings traced the origin of these behaviors to a single part of the brain. This area had a different role in causing the behaviors between the two species. These differences may have been the result of natural selection. You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and…

Topics covered

  • animal behavior
  • neuroscience
  • predator response
  • natural selection
  • mice species

Keywords

  • mouse brain
  • freeze or run
  • predator threat
  • escape center
  • natural selection

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Science Journal for Kids

Places: U.S., lion, chimpanzee, mice

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