how animals experience pain | ted-ed

How many distinct processes of feeling pain in vertebrates (animals with backbones)?

• 1
• 2
• 3

Nociception and concious recognition are two processes of feeling pain. Why do animals need nociception (=physical recognition of harm)?

• To help communicate the pain with other species
• To help move away from the harm
• To help feel less painful when experiencing harms

If animals had a secret super power, which power might they value most to avoid pain?

• Invisibility
• Super strength
• Mind reading
• Lightning speed

What behavior of wild hurt animals suggests their awareness of pain and distress?

• They may nurse their wounds
• They make distress noises
• All of the above
• None of the above

What is one reason why invertebrate animals are not legally protected from harm in many countries?

• Their behaviors are harder to read, so we're not sure about their feelings
• They DO NOT experience pain, so the focus should go to the vertebrates
• There are so many invertebrates, so the focus should go to the vertebrates

Why is it harder to determine if invertebrate animals feel pain compared to vertebrates?

• Invertebrate animals have simpler nervous systems and behaviors
• Invertebrate animals have too complicated nervous systems and behaviors
• Invertebrate animals have fewer behaviors

How do animals like oysters react to harmful stimuli?

• They have their fur stand on end
• They jump up and run away
• They close their shells

If animals were in a talent show, what might a hurt animal's special skill be?

• Juggling fire
• Doing backflips
• Reading Shakespeare

Why is it important to study how animals experience pain?

• To avoid causing them unnecessary pain
• To teach them how to do tricks
• To learn about their best habitats

Why might eating live octopus or boiling live crustaceans pose an ethical problem?

• Because it might be unsafe to eat live seafood
• Because we might be causing them unnecessary pain
• Because it might damage the ecosystem