One of the most interesting questions about zombie behavior is: Why don’t they react defensively when attacked? More inhuman than any other characteristic is the undead’s ability to completely disregard pain or physical harm.
First, it’s important to note the erroneous assumption that this means zombies don’t feel anything at all (see: Zombie Survival Guide Error #2). And though they likely 
have diminished pain receptors, a clearer understanding of how visual information is processed by the brain may shed some light on their lack of involuntary responses, such as flinching and ducking.
To that end, Rita Carter’s work, The Human Brain Book, proves an invaluable resource. Carter explains that there are actually two types of vision present in humans:
“Conscious vision is the familiar process of seeing and recognizing something, while unconscious vision uses information from the eyes to guide behavior without our knowledge of it happening.”
Put another way, our conscious site allows us to recognize the mailman as a person who carries mail, and our unconscious site helps us avoid the falling tree branch we didn’t even realize we saw.
Therefore, a lack of defensive posturing in the undead may be explained by a failure in unconscious vision. Regardless of whether it can feel pain, understand a threat, or even desire to avoid physical damage, that zombie at your front door simply might not be able to see the bat in your hand before you connect with the side of its skull.
Look for more insights on zombie vision as it relates to hunting in an upcoming post.
We previously touched on sensory perception in the undead (see: Neuropathy Can’t Explain Zombies), but ZRS Researcher, Parker Heath, recently took a closer look at the body’s nervous system to see what similarities and difference are likely present between humans and zombies.
Although the nervous system is often thought of as a single unit, it’s actually broken down into three distinct subdivisions: 1) central, 2) peripheral, and 3) autonomic. The central nervous system is the coordinating 
system of the body, and is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system control the movement of muscles in the limbs. And the autonomic nervous system oversees basic functions, such as body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.
“It’s widely accepted that zombies are driven by their brains, so the central nervous system must be functioning. And for movement to be possible at all, the peripheral system is also needed. But in zombies it appears that the autonomic system may be down.”
Heath argues that in the absence of a beating heart, body temperature control, and regular breathing, the main functions of the autonomic nervous system are no longer needed in the undead. Therefore the system is likely disengaged, allowing the zombie’s brain to devote more resources to the needs of the central and peripheral subdivisions.
This would reduce the amount of energy the zombie brain and body needs to function, potentially allowing it to survive longer with less.
Ever have the urge to mix a little undead mayhem into that same old family game night? Flying Frog Productions is here to help with their zombie board game, Last Night On Earth. With its own CD soundtrack setting the creepy mood, Last Night challenges players to survive a single day in a small town overrun by flesh-eating ghouls. Or if you’d rather be a ghoul yourself, command a legion of zombies and try to devour your friends before the game ends. To check it out click HERE.
Online t-shirt shop, Humerus, boasts a section devoted entirely to zombie t-shirts. Our favorite is their “Brains” design screen printed on a thick gray tee.
Featuring a screaming zombie, it’s done in the style of artist Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” poster, made famous in the 2008 Presidential campaign. Not sure how the two image relate, but who cares?
To check out the rest of their zombie line, or any of the other funny, weird and rude t-shirts click HERE.
We always thought that Veronica Lake was the only classic Hollywood starlet to join the ranks of the undead, but our friends at Zilfage set us straight with this “Seventy Year Itch” zombie t-shirt. Patterned after Marilyn’s original movie poster, this white and gray design is screen printed on a super-soft black tee, and comes in both men’s and women’s sizes. To check ou the rest of the Zilfage merch line click HERE.
