Animal sentience and suffering: a restriction on scientific research or a challenge?

Abstract

The Author treats the involvement of the statement of “animal sentience” as regards to the utilization of different animal models in research activities, by presenting and discussing the actual knowledge on neurofunctional bases of emotions and cognitive abilities in the principal animal models. On these bases, the importance of an ethical use of animals in research and the refinement of conditions of animal handling and management are emphasized.

Keywords

• animal models
• cognitive abilities
• emotions
• neurofunctional organization of stress responses