Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 8/3/2007

Question
Hello, I know it might sound weird but do you think that plants have feelings such as sadness, distress or fear even if they do not have a brain like animals? Do you think they can have a consciousness that could be organized differently than ours and that plants express pain in a different way not understandable by us? I base those questions on the fact that they react to harmful stimuli and that when we react to such stimuli we do feel pain. Thank you so much. Best.

Answer
Dear Pierre,

The question you asked isn't weird:  many people have wondered about it over the ages.  

Unfortunately, though, this is a question outside the realm of science.  Because a plant has nothing akin to the nervous system or brain of an animal, we have no way to even address the question of whether they feel pain or have any kind of consciousness.  The observable evidence suggests that they do not feel pain or emotions, at least not in the way animals do.

Plants do respond to environmental stimuli, as all living things do, but on a cellular level.  There does not seem to be any central integration of stimuli as in a brain.  And as far as we know, a nervous system is necessary for an organism to "feel" negative stimuli.  A brain is needed for more complex functions, such as emotions.

So it may be something we'll just have to wonder about until more information becomes available.  But for the time being, the scientific answer is:  No, plants don't feel pain or have emotions.

I hope that helps!

Dana