Which statement about pain in humans and rodents is true?

• A. Rodents cannot feel pain
• B. Only certain species experience pain
• C. Pain in rodents is always less than in humans
• D. Procedures that are painful for humans are also painful for animals

Answer: (D)

Pain arises when nociceptors detect tissue-damaging stimuli and the brain interprets those signals as an unpleasant experience. In mammals like humans and rodents, the anatomy and neurochemical pathways of pain are similar, so a procedure that is painful for a person is expected to be painful for a rodent as well, even though the animal can’t report it verbally. This is why analgesia and refinement are standard practices in rodent research—to prevent or lessen pain and align with humane standards. The other statements aren’t accurate: rodents do feel pain, pain isn’t limited to only some species, and pain in rodents isn’t universally less than in humans—the severity depends on the procedure, but the underlying point is that painful human procedures are generally painful for animals too.