Does anyone know of any research projects that has looked into if goldfish can feel pain?

Regards Jan

-- Jan Frandsen (gef@gef.dk), February 11, 2002

Answers

Quoted from the Summary of Findings from the paper "Neural responses in goldfish under adverse stimuli" (Hastings, Hatchet and Paine, 1982, UNPUBLISHED):

"Goldfish EEGs display a characteristic trace when the subject is exposed to adverse stimuli. For the purpose of this paper, the authors define this characteristic trace as evidence of a neural response to adverse stimuli. 72% of goldfish in the study displayed this neural response when placed on a flat surface and sharply rapped by the experimenter with his knuckle. 88% of goldfish in the study displayed this neural response when vigorously smashed between the thumb and index finger of the experimenter for 20 seconds, with results rising to 100% after 45 seconds. We believe the results of this experiment are conclusive: goldfish as a class can be said to respond to adverse stimuli."

I hope that answers your question, Jan.

-- Aimless (aimless@national_raffle_association.org), February 19, 2002.