Why are we so sensitive to pain?

August 31, 2015, 03:50:34 PM

What evolutionary benefit is there? Why did mammalian nerve endings develop to the point where if a rabbit gets eaten by a fox, the rabbit is in excruciating, hellish pain? I know that pain is a "warning" of sorts, but why is the most common death in nature that painful?

Luciana · August 31, 2015, 03:51:37 PM

I think you answered your own question there, kiddo.

Usually if something hurts, it's harmful to you, so you stop doing it.

Now just amplify it if you're dying

/thread

Naru · August 31, 2015, 03:52:38 PM

warning mostly, but really, i doubt evolution can make it to the point where once we're almost dead our nerves can stop working. it does kick in the adrenaline to try and survive.

Luciana · August 31, 2015, 03:54:10 PM

It wouldn't make sense for your nerves to stop working, because you could be destroying your body and not feel a thing.

That could lead to death.

Death is something we as a species want to avoid. Otherwise we'd, ya know, be extinct.

This is common sense

August 31, 2015, 03:57:39 PM

Quote from: Luciana on August 31, 2015, 03:54:10 PM

This is common sense

Jeez I don't know why you're so snippy today

And my reasoning is that if pain is a warning of sorts, and an animal is literally being eaten alive, they were already "warned". You'd just think that after millennia of evolution, there would be something like a body going numb in that kind of situation.

Super Irish · August 31, 2015, 03:58:06 PM

Generally what Luciana said.

If I leant against a hot stove without realising, without the pain receptors I wouldn't realise I'm damaging myself. Death is just the extreme of damaging myself to the point of non-existence. Say if I got set on fire, without pain I wouldn't rush to save myself:

In the case of an animal being eaten, a response of "going numb" is a sort of planning-for-failure type evolution, which is contradictory. The pain, being unbearable, is going to make the animal desperate to try anything to stop it, and something desperate might work to help it break free, and continue living.

Dr. Pavel · August 31, 2015, 04:06:25 PM

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Luciana · August 31, 2015, 04:07:43 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on August 31, 2015, 03:57:39 PM

Quote from: Luciana on August 31, 2015, 03:54:10 PM
This is common sense
Jeez I don't know why you're so snippy today

And my reasoning is that if pain is a warning of sorts, and an animal is literally being eaten alive, they were already "warned". You'd just think that after millennia of evolution, there would be something like a body going numb in that kind of situation.

I'm not snippy, trust me.

and I mean, it's not like a machine really. You can't just turn on and off your body. The closest thing I think to what you're saying is an adrenaline boost, which can shut out pain and give you an increase in body strength and speed for a little bit.

Luciana · August 31, 2015, 04:08:22 PM

Oh, I have video for you too. Watch this.

YouTube

Nexus · August 31, 2015, 04:09:23 PM

As I understand, stuff like adrenaline and being in shock actually block out pain.

velox · August 31, 2015, 04:10:10 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on August 31, 2015, 03:57:39 PM

Quote from: Luciana on August 31, 2015, 03:54:10 PM
This is common sense
Jeez I don't know why you're so snippy today

And my reasoning is that if pain is a warning of sorts, and an animal is literally being eaten alive, they were already "warned". You'd just think that after millennia of evolution, there would be something like a body going numb in that kind of situation.

How? Evolution works by passing on genes to your offspring. How does death without pain make you more likely to mate?

Naru · August 31, 2015, 04:20:16 PM

Quote from: Cerulean on August 31, 2015, 04:10:10 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on August 31, 2015, 03:57:39 PM
Quote from: Luciana on August 31, 2015, 03:54:10 PM
This is common sense
Jeez I don't know why you're so snippy today

And my reasoning is that if pain is a warning of sorts, and an animal is literally being eaten alive, they were already "warned". You'd just think that after millennia of evolution, there would be something like a body going numb in that kind of situation.
How? Evolution works by passing on genes to your offspring. How does death without pain make you more likely to mate?

if you dont feel pain, you're probably gonna be dead anyways before being able to tell whats happening.