The Chicken Thread

[Shadow Wolf]

Because most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem - the chicken runs around because, while the head has been severed, enough of the brain stem remains to control its motor skills. The chicken eventually dies from loss of blood, but in certain rare cases, where the carotid artery is not severed, the chicken can continue to live for an indefinite amount of time without its head. See Mike the Headless Chicken.

Could this be the same reason a coach roach can live for a few days without it's head?

 

[Nanda]

Could this be the same reason a coach roach can live for a few days without it's head?

"The cockroach brain is spread throughout its body. The head holds a bit of a nervous system, while the rest of the brain is scattered along the ventral (belly-side) part of its body. So, now you understand that if you cut off the head of a roach, it will still live for as long as one week; eventually dying from starvation or thirst."

For this and more roach fun facts go here: Roach Anatomy

 

[Super Universe]

Because most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem - the chicken runs around because, while the head has been severed, enough of the brain stem remains to control its motor skills. The chicken eventually dies from loss of blood, but in certain rare cases, where the carotid artery is not severed, the chicken can continue to live for an indefinite amount of time without its head. See Mike the Headless Chicken.

I'm going to guess for similar reasons.

I guess you've never killed a chicken. The head comes off clean. There is NO brain stem left. As for snakes, they are cut clean through as well.

I'll ask again, "Why does a chicken's body flop around after it's head has been severed?"

 

[Super Universe]

Close, but I suspect the soul has already left the theater and this is just biological Nature taking over just as I believe that the movement in a mother's womb is not subjected to ensoulment but that the soul arrives during birth (or some time after).

Chicken's don't have souls Cardero. If they did they would be attracted to a certain area of the brain and would not leave until that area ceased functioning.

 

[Nanda]

I'll ask again, "Why does a chicken's body flop around after it's head has been severed?"

If you're unwilling to take scientific answers, I have nothing for you.

Edit: Here they say it's not only the brain stem, but the spinal cord itself.

"When you sever a chicken's brain from its spinal cord, you cut off the voluntary control of movement. However, many of a chicken's basic movements, such as walking (gait), are involuntary and are controlled by electric impulses that originate at the spinal cord level. This gait pattern can persist until the chicken's muscles run out of energy."

From here:Fantastic Facts

The brain stem thing must have been case specific to Mike, who not only ran around after losing his head, but lived a full chicken life.

 

[YmirGF]

Why does a chicken's body flop around after it's head has been severed?

I have difficulty understanding why the question is even worthy of investingating an answer.

Why does a snake's body still twist about after it has been cut from the head?

Is the answer important to know?

 

[painted wolf]

Chicken's don't have souls Cardero. If they did they would be attracted to a certain area of the brain and would not leave until that area ceased functioning.

right.... thats just mean to the chicken. How do you know they don't have a soul?
Ever asked a chicken?

Anyway if that is true then why can the human body survive without a head for several minutes?
The body can function for a very long time with just a brain stem and no higher brain function.

wa:do

 

[cardero]

Chicken's don't have souls Cardero. If they did they would be attracted to a certain area of the brain and would not leave until that area ceased functioning.

I believe that the soul enters during birth (or some other time) and leaves upon death. This does not sit well with the believers that believe it enters during conception. I also use the examples of and infants movement inside the womb, the chickens responding after death and Booko's example of the twitching human bodies of the morgue to demonstrate that this is a Natural biological function of the physical body (shell) and not necessarily the workings of a soul.

 

[methylatedghosts]

Why does a chicken's body flop around after it's head has been severed?

Why does a snake's body still twist about after it has been cut from the head?

This:

Because there is nothing left to tell it not to

Walking is cause by a reflex arc which exists in an animals spinal cord. When you are not walking, your brain is constantly sending signals to a point in this reflex arc to inhibit this action. (Inhibitory signals - funnily enough ) This is an "off" switch. Your brain tells you to keep "not walking". When you decide to walk, your brain turns this "Off" signal off. So your brain is telling you to stop "not Walking". Now, when the spinal cord is severed, this off signal is also stopped, which allows your walking reflex to turn "on" and thus, your legs move in a walking action.

The same with a chicken
The same with a snake

 

[YmirGF]

I believe that the soul enters during birth (or some other time) and leaves upon death. This does not sit well with the believers that believe it enters during conception. I also use the examples of and infants movement inside the womb, the chickens responding after death and Booko's example of the twitching human bodies of the morgue to demonstrate that this is a Natural biological function of the physical body (shell) and not necessarily the workings of a soul.

Exactly. I also view the entry of "soul" in a similar way -- there's a surprise, eh -- but more accurately the "soul" is only present occaisionally while the fetus (of any kind) is growing. It is sort of like a prospecitve home owner visiting the job site as their new home is going up. They only take up "permanent residency" when the form desired has passed it final "occupancy inspection".

Oh, and btw super_universe, all things have souls == period. So, if you managed to get this wrong, one can only muse what other things you have grossly distorted as well.

 

[Super Universe]

Oh, and btw super_universe, all things have souls == period. So, if you managed to get this wrong, one can only muse what other things you have grossly distorted as well.

All things have souls huh?

An atom even?

Even so, your quite wrong, again...

 

[Buttercup]

SU....sorry, I don't know your given name, when are you going to tell us the answer you're looking for or give more clues?

 

[Papersock]

All things have souls huh?

It kinda depends on your definition of "soul."

 

[YmirGF]

All things have souls huh?

An atom even?

Even so, your quite wrong, again...

Could your Majesty perhaps explain why this is incorrect or are we beneath such pithy observations.

Oh, btw... even atoms have "souls", so it would appear that we are perceiving two separate views of reality and for that I am most certainly heartened. So if you can edify us with the bounty of your great understanding, perhaps there is still time for us to come to a proper understanding. I am curious, do you consider yourself to be a "midwayer" or a "celestial"?

 

[Nanda]

This talk of souls is all well and good, but the OP was:

Why does a chicken's body flop around after it's head has been severed?

Why does a snake's body still twist about after it has been cut from the head?

Which has been answered scientifically several times now, and ignored. So I guess what I'd like to know is what exactly you were looking for when you began this thread.

 

[Storm]

I've been on RF too long it seems... I expected something about Booko.

 

[YmirGF]

Which has been answered scientifically several times now, and ignored. So I guess what I'd like to know is what exactly you were looking for when you began this thread.

Don't fret wee Nanda, you will get used to having your thoughts and questions ignored by Super_Unicycle.

 

[Super Universe]

SU....sorry, I don't know your given name, when are you going to tell us the answer you're looking for or give more clues?

Answer? I don't know the answer. I just asked a question.

 

[Storm]

Then why don't you accept the answers given?

 

[Super Universe]

Could your Majesty perhaps explain why this is incorrect or are we beneath such pithy observations.

Oh, btw... even atoms have "souls", so it would appear that we are perceiving two separate views of reality and for that I am most certainly heartened. So if you can edify us with the bounty of your great understanding, perhaps there is still time for us to come to a proper understanding. I am curious, do you consider yourself to be a "midwayer" or a "celestial"?

Even atoms have souls huh? Hehe. Leaves me wondering how incredibly insignificant and small your idea of what a soul is.

Me a Midwayer or "Celestial"? More laughter. You're looking... in... the... wrong... place.