The Emotional Life Of Fish: Are These Creatures At All Capable Of Feelings?
Many argue that the fish do not even have an awareness of their own existence, but is that for real?
Experts have been trying for centuries to determine whether animals, like man. They have thoughts and feelings, but most agree that it must be so. After all, many studies have shown that not only that animals have feelings. And they are already capable of very complex emotions. However, for some species, is not so easy to find the answer. Suppose we’ll agree that butterfly and deer certainly beings with feelings. But we can say the same for the fish?
To determine this, it is necessary to answer the key question – how do determine whether an animal emotions. Sonya Ray Planelas from the University of Stirling and colleagues recently conducted a study that could help us to get even closer to the answer. Do not beat around the bush too much: it is concluded that the fish have more emotion than it at first appears.
Proponents of the theory that fish have feelings as the main argument to state that the brains of fish is too small and too easy for emotion. And that they do not have a cerebral cortex. Judging by this theory, the behavior of the fish in specific situations before can be understood as a reflex rather than an emotional reaction.
Those who think differently emphasize that the brain of fish materially different from mammalian brain. And it was found that the brains of fishes and mammal brain structures have the same evolutionary origin. We know that play a key role in the creation of emotion (amygdala) and learning (hippocampus). When these subordinate parts, we see similar effects in the behavior of both humans and for fish. Which suggests that these structures could even have similar functions!
Many argue that the fish do not even have an awareness of their own existence, but is that really so?
In addition, numerous studies have shown that fish contrary to popular belief that only have short term memory, capable of learning. And to use the acquired knowledge in various complex ways of behavior. Moreover, many species are, says Sonya Ray Planelas, able to move thanks to a kind of mental maps.
Experts have noticed that the fishes can not plan how to defeat the other fish. If you have previously watched as their enemy behaved in earlier conflicts.
It is known, Planelas notes that the fishes do not remain indifferent to harmful stimuli in the form of chemicals. Such as for example acetic acid, which causes pain to mammals. Such a stimulus level exceeds reflexes and physical reactions – on changing mental state.
In order to determine whether the fish is really aware of the world around them and of themselves, scientists have tried to challenge the so-called. emotional fever, hyperthermia and which occurs due to stress. It is a physical fever a similar reaction to infection, but in this case, the reaction causes a stressful situation – in general, the temperature of the body increases in response to stress.
