If insects have phenomenal consciousness, could they suffer?
Animal Sentience September 1, 2016 E. Paul, M. Mendl 9 citations
Klein & Barron's proposal that insects may have phenomenal consciousness challenges the cautious stance of many researchers. While the skeptical view that neural and behavioral parallels between humans and insects need not imply conscious experience cannot be falsified, if Klein & Barron are correct, it is important to consider the possible contents of insect consciousness. This discussion explores whether affective consciousness, with its implications for potential suffering, might also be part of the simulated perceptual conscious world they propose. In humans, affect-induced modulation of decision-making leads to cognitive bias, and the question is raised whether this can be observed in animals and used as a novel indicator of animal affect and welfare.