New Research Suggests Insects May Feel Pain Like We Do A groundbreaking study has shed light on the age-old question of whether insects feel pain, and the answer may be more complex than previously thought. Scientists have discovered a behaviour in crickets that is eerily reminiscent of how dogs respond to pain - they stroke and groom their sore antennae in an attempt to soothe themselves. The research, conducted by Associate Prof Thomas White from the University of Sydney, suggests that pain is not just a hardwired nerve response, but a subjective experience that can be felt and responded to in a way that's similar to humans. By studying the behaviour of crickets, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the biology of pain and its implications for animal welfare.
The behavioural cue of ‘flexible self-protection’ is a way to establish whether an animal feels pain, scientists saySign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDo insects feel pain? Crickets certainly seem to, according to new research which finds they stroke and groom a sore antenna in much the same way as a dog nurses its hurt paw.Associate Prof Thomas White, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said the experience of pain was a “longer, drawn-out, ouchy feeling”, that differed from a hardwired nerve response.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...
