Great white sharks, like other species of sharks and fish, have the ability to perceive and respond to pain. While the experience of pain may be different for sharks than it is for humans, research has shown that they have the necessary biological mechanisms to experience pain and that they can show behavioral responses to painful stimuli. Sharks and other fish have nociceptors (Porcher), which are specialized nerve endings that are sensitive to potentially harmful stimuli such as pressure, temperature, and tissue damage. When these receptors are activated, they can trigger a response in the animal's nervous system, resulting in the perception of pain. Sharks also have other structures in their nervous system that are involved in the perception of pain, such as the spinal cord and brain.