The behavioural cue of ‘flexible self-protection’ is a way to establish whether an animal feels pain, scientists say

Crickets that received the hot probe “overwhelmingly” directed their attention to the affected antenna – they groomed it more frequently, and tended to it over a longer period of time, he says. “They weren’t just agitated and flustered. They were directing their attention to the actual antennae that was hit with this hot probe.”

Link to the paper

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[–] CarpalTunnelButt@sh.itjust.works 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I've seen videos of single cell organisms, and even they look like they feel pain when stabbed or eaten.

[–] Sanctus@anarchist.nexus 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

On the contrary I've seen one where one cell passes straight through another cell, making a hole. The cell that was passed through did not react at all and kept about its business afterwards, even regaining shape. Wild.

[–] CarpalTunnelButt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 hours ago

Crazy, I think I've seen that one too !