From silence to recall: cognitive persistence and adaptation during hibernation in small mammals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17702009Keywords:
olfactory memory, rodents, cognition, hibernation, neuroecologyAbstract
Small mammals, particularly those living in complex arboreal and terrestrial environments, rely on advanced spatial and social memory, yet they face extreme cognitive challenges during hibernation and torpor. This review synthesizes breakthrough studies from recent years on how memory persists, degrades, or is restructured in hibernators. Topics include spatial mapping, olfactory and social recognition, molecular neuroprotection, ecological drivers, and comparative perspectives across rodents, bats, and other taxa. I identify high-impact gaps, highlight the transformative potential of integrative field-genomic approaches, and advocate for comparative, cross-taxa studies to resolve outstanding paradoxes in neuroecology.
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