Mice and the Mirror Test: A Fascinating Look at Self-Recognition

Researchers from the University of Texas have made a remarkable discovery: mice can recognize themselves in the mirror! In their study, they found that when they marked the foreheads of black mice with a spot of white ink, the mice spent more time grooming their heads in front of the mirror. It appears they are trying to wash away the ink spot. However, this self-recognition behavior only occurred if the mice were already accustomed to mirrors, had social interactions with similar-looking peers, and if the ink spot was relatively large.