Most of us have the impression that cold blooded creatures, such as fish, Don't feel pain. This belief has been around for many years. Only in the past few years we have probebly proved that some fish have do feel pain.
This is quiet a controversial topic for some people, especially anglers (fishermen) and members of animal rights groups. Tempers have flared, fists have been shaken and much heat as been generated on this topic. Some people confuse the issue by claiming (with very little proof) that only animals with the neocortext as a part of their brain can feel pain, and all other creatures, e.g Cows, dogs and fish cannot.
Lets try and cut back on the heat and try to put some light on the subject.
This is quiet a controversial topic for some people, especially anglers (fishermen) and members of animal rights groups. Tempers have flared, fists have been shaken and much heat as been generated on this topic. Some people confuse the issue by claiming (with very little proof) that only animals with the neocortext as a part of their brain can feel pain, and all other creatures, e.g Cows, dogs and fish cannot.
Lets try and cut back on the heat and try to put some light on the subject.
Pain - The problem
The first difficulty is that fish can't talk, and so cannot tell us if they feel pain. The other problem is that fish are not as cute as puppies and don't get so much automatic and immediate sympathy (I'm sure someone is going to disagree with this ~ Pixy). Another confusing topic - Is the fishes reaction pair or just reflex?
For example when you touch something hot you pull your hand away. This does not happen because you feel pain, but reflex. pulling your hand away happens automatically thanks to your spine. your brain is not involved. the heat activates the heat receptors in your hand, which send electric messages to the nerves in your spine. All by themselves they activate the muscles needed to pull your arm away. This happens with out your brain needed to work.
In courtesy, these never centers send electrical signals to the brain to tell you what happened. A very small instant you notice that you feel pain in your hand associated with the heat.
One part of your brain tell your other part "hey Karl, you just put your hand on that hot stove, again. Just thought I would let you know why your arm suddenly jerked. Do you mind not touching that hot stove again? Oh by the way, heres some pain to remind you not to touch it again."
when something happens to the fish, it reacts. Does it react because of reflex or pain? You can see the dilemma.
For example when you touch something hot you pull your hand away. This does not happen because you feel pain, but reflex. pulling your hand away happens automatically thanks to your spine. your brain is not involved. the heat activates the heat receptors in your hand, which send electric messages to the nerves in your spine. All by themselves they activate the muscles needed to pull your arm away. This happens with out your brain needed to work.
In courtesy, these never centers send electrical signals to the brain to tell you what happened. A very small instant you notice that you feel pain in your hand associated with the heat.
One part of your brain tell your other part "hey Karl, you just put your hand on that hot stove, again. Just thought I would let you know why your arm suddenly jerked. Do you mind not touching that hot stove again? Oh by the way, heres some pain to remind you not to touch it again."
when something happens to the fish, it reacts. Does it react because of reflex or pain? You can see the dilemma.
Pain - The Answers
The 'fish pain' research was done by Drs Sneddon, Braithwaite and gentle from Roslin institute in UK (Yes, the home of dolly, the cloned sheep) and the university of Edinburgh. The scientists tested rainbow trout. Previous studies looked for pain receptors in fish with cartilaginous or non-bony skeletons (rays and sharks), and could not find any. But the researches chose Rainbow trout because they have a bony skeleton. (Warning, may offend some people ~ pixy)
In a series of studies, they examined the fish for pain receptors, exposed them to heat, injected their lips with bee venom, saline solution or acetic acid, recorded brain activity and gave them morphine. They were able to show four results, three of which when combined may suggest they feel pain.
I'll continue this in a while, I've been copying this out of a book for ages.
I'll just add my resources for this article before I forget. I did copied this from
I Ain't Necessarily So, Bro', author Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
'psicine pain', new scientist, 6 september 2003, p 33.
Sneddon, Lynne U., 'the evidence for pain in fish: the use of morphine as an analgesic', alpplied animal behavour science, 5 septemeber 2003, pp 153-162.
Sneddon, Lynne U., et al., 'Do fishes have nociceptors? evidence for the evolion of a vertebrate sensory system' Proceeding of the Royal Society of London, 30 april 2003, pp 1115-1121.
'Tender lips', Science, 9 may 2003, P 897
Don't post until I say i'm done
In a series of studies, they examined the fish for pain receptors, exposed them to heat, injected their lips with bee venom, saline solution or acetic acid, recorded brain activity and gave them morphine. They were able to show four results, three of which when combined may suggest they feel pain.
I'll continue this in a while, I've been copying this out of a book for ages.
I'll just add my resources for this article before I forget. I did copied this from
I Ain't Necessarily So, Bro', author Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
'psicine pain', new scientist, 6 september 2003, p 33.
Sneddon, Lynne U., 'the evidence for pain in fish: the use of morphine as an analgesic', alpplied animal behavour science, 5 septemeber 2003, pp 153-162.
Sneddon, Lynne U., et al., 'Do fishes have nociceptors? evidence for the evolion of a vertebrate sensory system' Proceeding of the Royal Society of London, 30 april 2003, pp 1115-1121.
'Tender lips', Science, 9 may 2003, P 897
Don't post until I say i'm done
