Welfare Science

Pain Neuroscience Across Animal Taxa

Neuroscience of pain has expanded our understanding of nociception and suffering across a wide range of taxa, with important implications for which animals deserve welfare consideration.

Key Facts

Welfare Considerations

Pain neuroscience increasingly supports broad welfare consideration across taxa. The question is not whether nociception exists - it clearly does across much of the animal kingdom - but whether it is accompanied by affective experience. Evidence suggests this capacity is more phylogenetically widespread than previously assumed.

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