Some insects produce proteins when their bodies are exposed to pain, which have a similar effect to humans in regulating how the brain perceives pain.
For a long time, we have considered insects as living creatures. “brainless”, living solely on instinct with robot-like reactions to the world around them.
But the closer scientists look, the more they discover the surprisingly complex behaviors of insects, from the way bees communicate through dances to the way ants cooperate when working. Now we have solid evidence that These tiny creatures can feel pain too.
Insects feel pain like humans.
Accordingly, the documents recorded that insects have reactions and tendencies to avoid contact with causes that can harm their bodies. This originates from scientific concept Nociception (temporarily called “painful stimulation ability”) when they are the perception of insect pain.
“We wondered whether insect brains contain neural mechanisms that help them experience pain, rather than just basic perception.”said Professor Matilda Gibbons, a neurobiologist from Queen Mary University. “In humans, a pain signal can even be regulated by neural signals from the brain.”
Taking the example of soldiers on the battlefield, Professor Gibbons said that sometimes they have to use opium or some kind of extremely strong painkiller to temporarily forget about physical pain, simply because these substances can block sensory signals from the brain.
To investigate further, Prof. Gibbons and colleagues reviewed the scientific literature and found some evidence that this mechanism exists in insects.
Specifically, some species have produced proteins when their bodies are exposed to pain, which have a similar effect to humans in regulating the level of perception in the brain.
Behavioral evidence also suggests that insects have very specific ways, as a response, of being repeatedly exposed to agents that damage both their peripheral and central nervous systems.
Given these findings, the research team concluded thatg Insects have the ability to control the central nervous system based on neuroscientific evidence from behavioral, molecular and anatomical perspectives. “Such control of the body suggests that insects do experience pain”the group wrote in the journal Biological Sciences.
However, because insects are such a large and diverse group, the complexity of these pain sensations also varies greatly.
According to Dan Tri