Researchers have come up with a fresh way to study animal consciousness. Their method might help us see how animals think and feel compared to humans.
The approach uses a marker method. This means looking at behaviors and body features tied to consciousness in people, then checking if animals have them too. Consciousness here means being aware of things like pain or sights. The researchers think this could shed light on big questions about what consciousness really is, maybe even helping us understand our own minds better.
The researchers argue that, if animals act like humans in ways tied to consciousness, it might show they’re conscious too.
The researchers have described the methods and results of this study in an essay published in Science.
More open-minded research is needed
Their essay builds on the “New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness.” That declaration, backed by over 500 scientists, claimed consciousness likely exists in all vertebrates, like birds and fish, and many invertebrates, like octopuses.
People have wondered about animal minds for a long time. Even today, experts don’t fully agree on how widespread consciousness is among animals. The researchers suggest focusing on specific parts of consciousness, like feeling pain or seeing things. They want scientists to look for clues, or markers, in different animals to see if those parts are there.
They also push for studying more than just pain, like maybe joy, and using methods that don’t harm animals. But they admit one marker alone isn’t enough proof. For example, talking is a sign of conscious thought in humans, but fancy computer programs can fake it without being conscious. Context matters a lot, they say. Still, they believe keeping an open mind and doing more research is key. One day, we might say with confidence that many animals are conscious. For now, the evidence isn’t perfect, so they urge everyone to keep exploring.
