A little damage may be OK, scientists suspect, since their daily life is not super complicated.
In fact, the brains of three wild musk oxen showed signs of extensive damage, Ackermans and her colleagues found. The damage was similar to what’s seen in people with
, a disorder known to be caused by repetitive head hits . In the musk ox brains, a form of a protein called tau had accumulated in patterns that suggested brain bashing was to blame. In an unexpected twist, the brains of the females, who hit heads less frequently than males, were worse off than the male’s. The male body, with its heavier skull, stronger neck muscles and forehead fat pads, may cushion the blows to the brain, the researchers suspect.
The results may highlight an evolutionary balancing act; the animals can endure just enough brain damage to allow them to survive and procreate. High-level brainwork may not matter much, Ackermans says. “Their day-to-day life is not super complicated.”