Is itchiness… CONTAGIOUS?!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Zhou-Feng Chen and team from Washington University were ITCHING to find out.
They showed mice a video of another mouse scratching. Then, the mice watching the video began to itch, too! The team monitored their neuron activity. When they blocked active neurons with a targeted viral injection, the itching stopped. So …?
The mice didn’t THINK about itching. It’s just a reflex! Researchers think this trait evolved as a survival mechanism. What’s it mean for us?
Keep an eye on your itchy neighbors. When someone starts getting bit by bugs…that’s your cue to move!
The researchers believe this may even apply to other feelings, like fear and empathy!
Now… Share this story for some free itching cream… NOT!
Reference:
Gao, F., Ma, J., Yu, Y. Q., Gao, X. F., Bai, Y., Sun, Y., … & Chen, Z. F. (2022). A non-canonical retina-ipRGCs-SCN-PVT visual pathway for mediating contagious itch behavior. Cell Reports, 41(1), 111444.