Mice learn from predator-attack experience to enhance flight behavior by optimizing environmental exploration strategy

However, little is known of how predator-attack experience may affect predator-defense behavior. Here, we caught mice by their tails to simulate a predator attack.

We found that this led to a quicker flight response to visual threatening cues in experiences mice compared to naive mice. A single predator attack did not induce anxiety but increased activity in brain nuclei related to innate fear and learning. Predator-attack induced quickening of flight was partly rescued by pharmacological blockade of protein synthesis which is critical for learning.