Relationship between engagement with the impossible task, cognitive testing, and cognitive questionnaires in a population of aging dogs

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the engagement of aging dogs with a cognitively challenging and potentially frustrating task (the impossible task). Based on previous observations, we predicted that dogs showing signs of cognitive impairment in other cognitive tests and owner-completed questionnaires would show reduced engagement with the task.

Methods

In this task, dogs were shown a piece of food in a clear container that they could not open; time spent interacting with the container and the experimenter was measured. While the impossible task has not been used as a measure of frustration, the parameters of the test design creates a potential frustrate state, making this assessment appropriate. Thirty-two dogs enrolled in a longitudinal aging study part

SUBMITTER:  

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9848444 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature