As humans we're familiar with the feeling of engaging in an activity for the sheer pleasure of it. When you find yourself in the moment, completely immersed in what you are doing, feeling challenged and skilled at the same time, you are in a state of flow. It’s very reinforcing—in many cases, we invest substantial resources or make big sacrifices in order to do our favorite things. However, non-human animals have very limited abilities to engage in similar behaviors. Yes, we reward them for behaviors we like, but is that the same kind of reinforcement that humans get from experiencing flow? As the paper’s authors say, “can we provide animals with the same access to a sense of enjoyment that we as humans value so dearly?”

Sponsor:Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior LLC
Speaker(s):Kristina Spaulding

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