The Usefulness Of Animal Models

Brain research like this generally requires a live subject whether it is to be an animal or a human. Any experimental medical testing is always an ethical issue because of the potential risks that it poses such as pain, discomfort, death, or altercations to the subjects current state. There are many risks with brain research involving what might happen in the present and what could happen in the future.

47). The supposedly medical nature of these studies, with the corresponding chance for advancing the health of the human species, is overcome by the fact that “animal models have questionable accuracy” (Singer, Animal Liberation, p. 58). A particularly chilling take-away from the studies Singer lists is that most of them end with a note along the lines of ‘further experimentation necessary’, implying that the researchers are involved in a self-fulfilling negative cycle where their personal pursuit for grant money, publication in peer reviewed journals, and the elusive accolades of their colleagues far overshadows the immense amount of suffering their studies are causing. Indeed, Singer presents his argument in a convincing format, with one account surpassing the next in its sheer lack of consideration for animals as living creatures. This reinforces his argument that humans are speciesists, prone to causing harm to non-humans without a thought if it means a slight (perceived) enhancement in their own state.

As of 2015, 200 to 225 million animals are said to used in laboratory research for the biomedical industry annually worldwide. Typically defended by arguments of reliability and human health benefits, recently the question of ethics and values placed on animal testing have caused it to become a relevant and pressing topic that has been more widely discussed and debated. First off, the laboratory conditions that are instigated upon millions of animal models for the sake of medical research has been said to be unethical and cruel. Additionally, it has been debated that the results of animal experimentation are unreliable across a wide range of areas. Lastly, animal testing not only leads away from the direction of resources from more effective testing methods but also prolongs the duration of time humans may need to wait for an effective cure. Therefore, the potential benefits of animal experimentation are greatly outweighed by the risks and collective harm of humans and animals which is why resources should be directed towards more human-based testing procedures.

Around the world, millions of scientists conduct their studies by testing their research on animals. Many people believe that experimenting on animals is crucial to the advancement of medical discoveries. Studies show however, that animal experimentation is brutal and unnecessary. There are alternatives though: “replacement, reduction, and refinement” (Howard 2).

To begin, the experimental use of animals in medical studies is unethical. These creatures are confined in isolated cages where they are deprived of necessary environmental elements. It is not uncommon that they undergo ghastly methods of experimentation; including the inhalation of toxic fumes, the burning of their skin, and the crushing of their spinal cords ("People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals"). This information sheds light on the grim realities of animal experimentation. These creatures are living, breathing beings that do not deserve to be treated as they are nothing more than lab objects. Not only are they ripped from their natural habitats, but are forced to endure an irreversible psychological trauma . To put it in perspective, imagine a six-month-old child being taken from their parents and sent to a lab to undergo scientific experiments that could ultimately result in

A hypothetical experiment is proposed that inquires into the effects of cutting a specific part of the hypothalamus of cats. In the experiment, cats would have a surgery in which their hypothalamus is cut, when the cat would recover from the surgery, their behavior would be observed. The cats would then be painlessly euthanized via an injection of poison. This research raises a question as to whether the experiment is ethical and follows the guidelines described in the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals (developed by the American Psychological Association's Committee on Animal Research and Ethics [CARE]). After careful examination of the APA CARE guidelines, the experiment would be ethical because there were no technical

Jeremy Rifkin provides many scientific experiments done on animals to support his claims of animals being similar to humans. I do not agree, animals may have characteristics and abilities to enhance some skills but they do not compare to the cognitive mentality of humans. Animals react based on instincts and energy. Although Rifkin uses the gorilla named Koko, Koko was an exception, she was involved in a controlled experiment. Humans react on cognitive thinking, if they were to react based on feelings or instincts one would be in a huge pickle.

Due to the anatomical correlation linking to the brains of both humans and animals it can be said that animals have minds and similar cognitive capacties to those of humans (The Economist,

No one with firm morals enjoys endangering or subjecting animals to harm, especially when it is not absolutely necessary. That is why the laws and regulations set forth by organizations like OLAW and the USDA exist—to ensure that the minimal amount of harm is committed to the minimal number of animals while still allowing researchers to study and better understand the perplexities of human systems. The experimental animal research performed by scientists such as Alexander Fleming, Ernst Chain, and Howard Florey contributed to a shift in the tide of World War II in the fact that millions of soldiers who would have lost their lives to infections of superficial wounds or pneumonia were now able to continue fighting and return home to their loved ones. Animal research continues to be beneficial for pre-clinical trials today and to study the brain. Without animals to act as analogues to the human brain, researchers would be severely limited in the methods available to study something such as the functionality of the brain when considering all of its intricacies such as complex thought, evaluative judgement, and social behaviors. The alternative to animal research trials would include clinical trials for drugs which have not been analyzed and tested thoroughly, less data for researchers to utilize to further the progression of the overall understanding of the human body and its complex systems, and costly invasive procedures on humans in order to study behavior which could injure, adversely affect the patient for the rest of their lives, or worse. I implore you to consider, is that truly the ideal world that you

Biological psychology is the study of how biology affects a number of psychological processes i.e. how the mind affects the body (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner & Hood 2015). The study of the mind has had many influential figures throughout history that often use each other’s ideas as a stepping stone to further advance psychology, some of the first being Plato and Aristotle. Plato believed in nativism and theorised some skills and characteristics are innate and a person is born with them (Schacter et al, 2015). Aristotle, however, was in favour of philosophical empiricism i.e. that all knowledge is acquired through experience, yet current scientists do not consider that nativism and empiricism are entirely accurate (Schacter et al, 2015). Aristotle also believed that the brain existed to cool the blood, as during that time people were sceptical that an organ could be responsible for behaviour (Kolb, Whishaw & Teskey 2016). The next major advancement in biological psychology was the introduction of phrenology by Francis Gall, Gall’s theory suggested that all psychological capabilities had a specific place in the brain (Schacter et al, 2015). This theory later turned out to be correct, although was overshadowed by Gall’s insistence that he could state a person’s character dependant on the size of lumps and indentations on a person’s skull, which he thought would represent the size of that brain region beneath (Schacter et al, 2015). Due to this, in spite of a large following, phrenology was quickly discredited. Biologist Pierre Flourens, unhappy with Gall’s research, began removing localized areas of the brain in various animals to observe their behaviour (Schacter et al, 2015). Flourens then found that animal’s movements differed to those with intact brains. This mirrored a situation for surgeon Paul Broca with whom one of his patients had damage to the left side of

Though I understand the ethical issues that arise from the concept of animal testing, I believe that animal testing is essential to medical advances for the human race. Numerous medical breakthroughs have been the products of animal testing (24). Vaccinations, treatments to acute and chronic illnesses, cures, medicine, and various other benefits have all derived from animal testing. Particularly in the field of psychology, our understanding of human behavior and cognition are also due to animal testing.

This, I led me too a love of psychology. How wonderful was it that there was a whole science devoted just to that one mystical organ? Studying the brain, we can unlock the doors to human

According to the Humane Society International (HSI), animal testing or animal experimentation for medical research refers to the experimentation on live animals for the purposes of investigation on diseases, medical treatments, or fundamental biology. Charles Gross, a former member of the History of Neuroscience committee of the global Society for Neuroscience, states that animals were used for improving medical knowledge even during the 2nd century when Galen, a Greek physician, utilized pigs for experimentation. Galen’s research led to a better understanding of how the brain and heart function in Western Europe (Gross).

Every year, millions of animals suffer through painful and unnecessary tests. Animals in laboratories all over the world live lives of deprivation, pain, isolation, and torture. Even though vast studies show that animal experimentation often lacks validity, leading to harmful human reactions, we still continue to use this method of experimentation, while many other less-expensive and more beneficial alternatives exist. Going beyond the issue of animal experimentation being morally wrong, this form of research is also hindering medical progress. Although the use of animals in laboratories is said to be necessary for the welfare and health of humans, people mistakenly believe that this immoral and unscientific method of experimentation is

Third, Singer states that, “apes, monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, and other animals are more aware of what is happening to them, more self‐directing, and at least as sensitive to pain as a human infant.”(Page 2, Tools for Research) Singer is quick to assign cognitive motives to observed