Most animals have neurons that respond to unfavorable environmental conditions by sending pain signals to the brain. For example, elevated [CO₂] triggers an influx of Na⁺ that opens voltage-gated Na⁺ channels to initiate an action potential. The naked mole rat, which lives in crowded underground colonies, has a voltage gated Na⁺ channel that is inhibited by protons. Explain why this is advantageous.