The essay 'Animals Are Not Things: A View on Animal Welfare Based on Neurological Complexity' was not specifically referenced, but it addresses animal welfare based on the advanced understanding of animal neurology, mirroring the ethical considerations surfaced by the research of notable scientists like Hubel and Wiesel.
The 2002 essay "Animals Are Not Things: A View on Animal Welfare Based on Neurological Complexity" was written by a scientist who focuses on the neurological complexity of animals to argue for their welfare. Although the reference you provided does not specify the author of this particular essay,
it is important to discuss the advancement in animal welfare and neuroscience research as they relate to the ethical treatment of animals. Nobel Prize winners David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel's work on the visual system using animals, as well as Samantha Hurn's explorations into human-animal interactions, reflect the evolving understanding of animals as sentient beings with complex neurological systems, which informs the ethos of treating animals with respect and kindness.
In animal welfare discussions, the complexity of animal neurology is often brought into focus to better understand their subjective experiences and thus guide the ethical considerations needed when animals are used for research or other purposes.