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https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MeU8opkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gW68xaYAAAAJ&hl=fr

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Jonathan Birch, Précis of The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI

Abstract

What does The Edge of Sentience tell us about insect sentience and consciousness? In this commentary, we reflect on Jonathan Birch’s framework for defining and scientifically investigating sentience in animals. We discuss the methodological challenges of studying subjective experience in evolutionary distant species, and consider trace conditioning, affective states, and neural architectures as potential windows into consciousness in insects. We argue that uncertainty, whether concerning definitions or methodology, should not prevent experimental investigation; rather it should motivate new approaches and experimental designs for exploring the diversity of conscious experience.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Catherine Macri, Neuro-SU, IBPS, Sorbonne University, investigates markers of consciousness (trace conditioning and a fear-like state) in honey bees, across behaviour, physiology and neurobiology.  Website

Martin Giurfa, Professor of Neurosciences, Neuro-SU, IBPS, Sorbonne University, investigates learning, memory and cognitive processing in insects, from behaviour to molecules.  Website

DOI

10.51291/2377-7478.1949