S19.1 Cognitive processes as the links between emotions and welfare to achieve better animal quality of life Alain Boissy, INRA UMR1213 Herbivores Randy Oppermann Moe, Lena Lidfors Animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing emotions, as acute and transient processes, which are actually an important determinant of welfare, as a prolonged affective state. However scientific investigation of emotions, and particularly positive ones, has long been neglected. We will highlight a pragmatic framework to scientifically explore emotional experiences in animals from recent advances in cognitive psychology and affective neurosciences. First, we will show in sheep how emotions are triggered by elementary cognitive processes, whereby the challenging situation is evaluated from a limited number of criteria including the novelty of the triggering situation, its predictability and controllability. The nature of the emotions the animals feel can be thus inferred from their evaluative abilities. Then, the interactions between emotions and cognition will be explored to understand the development of prolonged affective states. Second, we will focus on specific cognitive processes (i.e. positive anticipation, contrast and controllability) for investigating positive emotional experiences, illustrated by recent experiments in poultry and sheep. Useful strategies for enhancing positive experiences will be outlined from this knowledge and practical applications will be suggested to enhance animal quality of life. Possible links between positive experiences and alleviation of the negative effects of stress or diseases will be explored.