Behavior Break: Recognizing Cognitive Engagement

Welcome to this Behavior break for Friday, August 1, 2025. I'm Lori Torrini, an animal behaviorist and trainer. You can find out more about my work at www.BehaviorEducation.org.

Cognitive engagement refers to an animal’s active mental involvement in exploring, processing, problem-solving, or interacting with its environment in a way that reflects attention, curiosity, and learning. In the context of this discussion it is driven by voluntary interest rather than reflex, fear, or stress.
When an animal is alert, investigating, making choices, or solving problems, that’s cognitive engagement. It shows us the animal is mentally present and interested; not just reacting, but thinking.

References:
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Held, S. D. E., & Špinka, M. (2011). Animal play and animal welfare. Animal Behaviour, 81(5), 891–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.01.007
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Mason, G. J., & Burn, C. C. (2011). Behavioural restriction. In M. C. Appleby, J. A. Mench, I. A. S. Olsson, & B. O. Hughes (Eds.), Animal welfare (2nd ed., pp. 98–119). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936594.0098
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Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. J. (2008). Assessment of positive welfare: A review. The Veterinary Journal, 175(3), 293–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.05.009