Pithing is a laboratory procedure used to immobilize or kill an animal by inserting a needle or metal rod into its brain. It is viewed as a humane way of killing an animal that is going to be slaughtered or otherwise killed for disease control or humane reasons, for example, an animal that is severely injured in an accident. Pithing is also a procedure used in laboratories to immobilize a biological specimen, for instance, a frog. A needle is inserted through the rear base of the skull and wiggled, destroying the brain. The specimen remains living due to vital functions continuing without cerebral control, allowing it to be dissected while observing such living physiology as its beating heart and expansion and contraction of its lungs without causing further pain. Pithing greatly reduces the incidence and intensity of muscle contractions during dissection, thus simplifying the dissection. However, pithing is considered a cruel torture method by animal rights activists, and if done incorrectly, its not guaranteed to render the frog “brain dead," which means students could be experimenting on frogs while they’re still conscious and can feel every cut and shock of electricity.