Reconsidering the Use of Vertebrates in Neuroscience Research and Emerging Potential Alternatives

By allowing researchers to study and probe the mechanisms of various biological phenomena, animal models have aided greatly in advancing our understanding of neuroscience. Their continued use for laboratory research, however, has met with ethical hurdles as emerging evidence suggests that many vertebrate and animal species possess cognitive abilities once thought to be exclusive to humans. Buttressing these ethical concerns are the practical limitations of the high cost and protracted time scale of studies reliant on mammals and other vertebrates. These and other limitations have prompted an exploration of potential alternatives that could sustain the advancement of knowledge while also minimizing or preventing animal harm. In this review, we discuss the current state of the field, noting the strengths and weaknesses of the use of various animal models for neuroscience research. We highlight alternative approaches that make use of non-vertebrate models and various technological innovations that permit state-of-the-art investigations in neuroscience while simultaneously limiting the infliction of harm on vertebrate animals.