1. animals can 'feel' pain 2. animals are incapable of complex emotions 3. animals have a frontal lobe (task execution: ability to choose good vs. bad, to do or not to do, to invest or not to invest, to have sex or not have sex <in public v. in private>, to restrain or not restrain oneself, to pay one's bills or not to pay one's bills -without the frontal lobe being healthy, balanced and functional ... this could change your personality and choice of actions) , hippocampus (long term memory + spacial navigation) and amygdala (memory with emotions center: memories are formed when linked with emotions, fear-learning is an example) 4. So far scientists have found that the amygdala exists in animals but haven't found all the relevant answers. This means that animals could have simple emotions as well as complex emotions. The verdict is still out but for sure they have emotions. =D 5. There are germs and organisms that can invade parts of the hippocampus and amygdala leading to memory loss or changes in the emotional response. In the case of Ballard v. Fire Ins. Exch., No. 99-05252 [Texas Dist Ct. June 6, 2001] it was documented that toxic mold had affected the memory retention capability of Mr. Ballard. Mrs. Ballard won the initial lawsuit of $32M USD but then later divorced Mr. Ballard. Only by asking Melinda Ballard will we ever know how much her husband's personality was eroded by toxic mold. 6. Does that mean that toxic mold could reduce our complex behaviors to simple and undefined actions? Humans becoming more animal like? The answers are unfortunately a disturbing yes and that should be the least many health concerns.