Elsevier

Life Sciences

Volume 49, Issue 19, 1991, Pages 1399-1402
Life Sciences

Pain perception in decapitated rat brain

https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(91)90391-NGet rights and content

Abstract

The question of humaneness of decapitation per se has been considered. The time required for the oxygen tension in decapitated rat brain to decline to a level at which the brain becomes unconscious was estimated to be 2.7 sec. Assuming that decapitation is a powerful arousal stimulus and that the resulting EEG activation (low voltage, fast activity) indicates a conscious awareness of pain and distress the maximum time the pain and distress could be perceived would be 2.7 sec. Hence, decapitation of rats per se may be considered humane.

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