2006-09-01 09:44:34 · 26 answers · asked by serg K 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
no , although a chicken will run around for up to minute ........due to nerves still being attatched .
cheers !
2006-09-01 09:46:26 · answer #1 · answered by BIGG AL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. It is likely instant death. There may be some residual electrical activity in the brain for a few seconds, but there would be no consciousness or awareness. French scientists conducted experiments on the heads of recently decapitated prisoners and found no verifiable signs of continued life, and any movement or activity was deemed to be involuntary and non-reactive.
There is some evidence of continuing mental activity (of sorts) up to 30 seconds after decapitation, but that is not scientifically verifiable. You should read these articles for some interesting views on the topic:
http://menshealth.about.com/od/conditions/a/Severed_Heads.htm
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html
Having said all that, you might be interested in the following article, which raises some disturbing questions about the issue.
http://www.strangemag.com/recentadditions/dogheads.html
2006-09-01 09:48:56 · answer #2 · answered by Perplexed Music Lover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can. During the French Revolution during the reign of Robespierre, many people were decapitated using the guillotine. Experiments were carried out in which condemned persons were asked to communicate after their heads were cut off by blinking, just to see if consciousness continued after the head was removed from the body. These experiments confirmed that consciousness remains for several seconds after the head is severed.
2006-09-01 09:50:46 · answer #3 · answered by mr_moto_redux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5 to 10 second
2006-09-01 09:46:47 · answer #4 · answered by pac-man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not technically alive, the heart requires electric impulses from the brain to beat. The rest of the body would be "alive" until the tissue died of oxygen loss.
2006-09-01 09:48:08 · answer #5 · answered by roamin70 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See, I've often wondered about this myself because of the phrase "running around like a headless chicken." However, I'm sure that once a human head is severed it is over. I have never heard of anything to suggest otherwise. The brain controls everything so once it dies the body dies.
2006-09-01 09:50:21 · answer #6 · answered by mad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, some knowledgeable folks out there. I too have heard of the experiments on guillotine victims. Good answers.
And now I feel thoroughly depressed.... Can you even imagine doing this to a living human being?
2006-09-01 09:59:01 · answer #7 · answered by myrmidon 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You mean like a chicken? No, cause then the French wouldn't have had a picnic if all the nobles were running around spraying blood everywhere.
2006-09-01 09:52:06 · answer #8 · answered by Mack L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that all depends on your definition of "alive"
it is legitimate to state that when a person's head is removed, they are immediately "dead"
however, decapitated bodies will sometimes gasp for breath (through the exposed trachea) for a short while
2006-09-01 09:47:24 · answer #9 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THIS IS NOT FACT!!!
That said, I heard it can function for like a 2 seconds after being severed.
2006-09-01 09:51:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The seat of conciousness resides within the head.
Guillotine victims have been witnessed to 'see' and voluntarily blink for up to fifteen seconds.
Now...
is your life better for having known this?
2006-09-01 09:51:12 · answer #11 · answered by kinsmed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋