Data and Code for "Programmed seasonal brain shrinkage in the common shrew via water loss without cell death"

Brain plasticity, the brain's inherent ability to adapt its structure and function, is crucial for responding to environmental challenges but is usually not linked to a significant change in size. A striking exception to this is Dehnel’s phenomenon, where seasonal reversible brain size reduction occurs in some small mammals to decrease metabolic demands during resource-scarce winter months. Despite these volumetric changes being well-documented, the specific microstructural alterations that facilitate this adaptation remain poorly understood. Our study employed Diffusion Microstructure Imaging (DMI) to explore these changes in common shrews, revealing significant alterations in water diffusion properties, such as increased Mean Diffusivity and decreased Fractional Anisotropy, leading to decreased water content inside brain cells during winter. These findings confirm that brain size reduction correlates with a decrease in cell size, as our data indicate no reduction in cell numbers, showcasing a reorganization of brain tissue that supports survival without compromising brain function. This insight into brain plasticity extends our understanding of neuronal resilience and offers potential strategies for addressing neurodegenerative diseases.