Woodpeckers shrink their brains to survive the winter — Science & IT

It helps animals survive the winter.

A study of the behavior of the shrew (Sorex araneus) revealed an incredible survival strategy in the cold season. Instead of stocking up for the winter, this tiny beast shrinks its organs, including its brain.

This was reported by ScienceAlert.

The common shrew (Sorex araneus) is a small mammal that lives only one year, and non-standard strategies are important for its survival. Weighing only 5 to 12 grams, these animals shrink their energy-consuming organs, allowing them to survive starvation when temperatures drop. This phenomenon, known as the “Denel phenomenon”, involves the loss of up to 18% of body weight, including a quarter of the brain, with no long-term consequences, as the shrew regenerates the lost brain in the spring.

The researchers found out that the key role in this process is played by genes, in particular BCL2L1, responsible for…