"george" wrote in message
news:_Q_vd.198222$V41.106219@attbi_s52...
snip
Doesn't this assume that fish process the pain in the same manner as
humans?

If by that you are asking if they process the stimulus in the same way,
the
answer is no, because they process the stimulus in their brainstem,
whereas we
take it a giant step further and filter it through our neocortex, which is
an
organ fish don't have. THAT is a quantum leap from what fish do.

Agreed, about the difference. (On a side note, I always giggle at the phrase
Quantum Leap. If it were a Quantum leap, the difference would be small, not
great. LOL) I don't however agree that pain can only be defined by what you
refer to as our emotional response. Just because humans respond to pain in
one way, does not mean that other species respond in the same manner.

Isn't it possible that fish have a more simple thathurtsswimawaycortex?
We
can distinguish between a pinch in the butt and a kick in the ass,
because
we have the hardware/software. That doesn't mean that all pain
processing is
so capable in all animals. Isn't that a valid possibility?

You are confusing pain with stimulus. Pain is an emotional reaction to
harmful
stimulus, the reaction occurring in the neocortex of higher life forms.
Fish do
not have a neocortex and so cannot form the emotional reaction that we
call
pain. So their reaction is simply a fight or flight response originating
from
their midbrain.

It seems we need to come up with a definition of pain that we both agree is
correct. I'd venture to say we have two different definitions.

snip


--
BV
Webporgmaster of iheartmypond.com
I'll be leaning on the bus stop post.