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15.7
Placental life that displays self-aware qualities
 
  Dreaming, the concept of the brain and nervous system being active during periods of sleep now appears to be a common feature of all vertebrate animals.  
  While fierce debate still rages as to how much actual REM (rapid eye movement) type sleep (indicating conscious dreaming) different animals experience, it is now confirmed that virtually all animals that have been studied exhibit some period of REM, therefore dreaming.  
  Whereas humans used to like to think of themselves as somehow being unique in terms of dreaming, it now appears that we are merely a more sophisticated example of the normal dream and sleep behaviour of virtually all vertebrate.  
15.7.1 The display of emotions and self identity  
  While humans were forced through science to concede that we are not unique in dreaming, a parallel area of study in the area of emotions and self identity behaviour has also proven to be illuminating.  
  All vertebrates have sophisticated hormone and neuro transmitter systems, the engine that drives the physiological side of emotions. When a dog, or a cat or a human reacts to a certain stimulii, it is the chemical response of these hormones that triggers the change in body state, movement and even facial expressions.  
  Human beings have hundreds of intricate muscles in their faces making facial expression change the most sophisticated of all animals. But this does not mean that other animals do not experience similar chemical and emotional responses to stimulii interpreted as fear, or food, or happiness, or jealousy.  
  The most famous study of the common traits amongst complex animals life forms have been within the primate families as well as other species such as dolphins and dogs. In all these examples of complex mammals, the range of emotional variance was suprisingly broad and not disimilar to human beings.  
  A dog feels pain in much the same way as a human does. A chimpanzee when angry, exhibits the same neuro transmitter responses as an angry human teenager. A laughing dolphin releases the same endorphin response as a movie audience enjoying a comedy.  
  Like dreams, emotions and hormonal responses seems to be a common trait amongst mammals and something not unique merely to human beings.  
15.7.2 Language, and communication  
  While dreams and emotions are no longer the exclusive domain of being human, there is one area that humans still consider their unique and special realm- the world of language and communication.  
  Some historians argue that the greatest invention of humanity is language, when in fact unique communication between species is common place, Nor is complexity a uniquely human trait, as a number of species are known to create unique communications of astounding complexity such as the song lines of Humpback whales.  
     
 
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