Cows Enjoy a Mental Challenge

Interesting and silly, from a Times article on cows.

Turns out that cows enjoy problem solving:

Donald Broom, professor of animal welfare at Cambridge University, who is presenting other research at the conference, will describe how cows can also become excited by solving intellectual challenges.

In one study, researchers challenged the animals with a task where they had to find how to open a door to get some food. An electroencephalograph was used to measure their brainwaves.

?Their brainwaves showed their excitement; their heartbeat went up and some even jumped into the air. We called it their Eureka moment,? said Broom.

Just like the rest of us it seems. Other interesting bits about cow psychology in the article, some of which are beyond the scope of this blog.

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