Cognitive Assessment Protocols for Use with Companion Animals

Cognitive Assessment Protocols for Use with Companion Animals

Abstract Text:

This presentation will provide an overview of the three main technologies that have been used to train and assess cognitive ability in companion animals, will discuss the utility of each and their relationship between all three.  The first technology utilizes an approach, known as Operant conditioning, and is a method of training animals that follows a sequence of distinct steps – each of which uses reward to motivate the animals to learn and a process referred to as shaping in which reward is provided for incremental responses. This approach can be used to shape a broad spectrum of behaviors, such as responding to specific commands or stimuli.   In dogs, these behavioral testing protocols have long been used to train groups of animals to carry out specific behavioral functions, and include military working dogs and seeing eye dogs as examples.  The procedures followed have been well established and there is a large population of animal trainers who are highly skilled in the art.  

The second type of protocol, which is one that we have extensively, is one in which animals are presented with a specific problem and over repeated testing learn to solve the problem, initially by a process of trial and error learning.  We have used this procedurel to try to understand the cognitive structure of the canine (and feline) brain, how cognition  develops, how it changes with age and how it compares with that of the human. The specific problems are referred to as neuropsychological tests, because their performance can be linked specific neural structures.  These protocols are useful for safety and efficacy screening drugs and other interventions.  They can also be used in developing interventions for use in humans, with the dog serving as a translatable animal model. 

The final technology involves the development of standardized questionnaire to assess  cognitive function and is a procedure used only for assessment. The rationale for developing this questionnaire was came from the realization that cognitive function can decline dramatically with age in dogs.  This cognitive decline has been labeled cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS).  The actual functions, however, are not limited to behaviors linked to cognition, but also behaviorsthat could be linked to other aging processes, To date, there is little evidence that CDS as defined by questionnaires is a correlate of other measures of canine cognition.

Keywords:

Operant-Condition, Neuropsychologal Testing,  Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome