Cognitive tests can be performed on both humans and animals. These tests are conducted in order to assess cognitive abilities. While the types of tests administered to humans and animals differ, the point of all cognitive tests is to further study the psychology and philosophy of the mind. Many of these tests used today are derived from the work of Sir Francis Galton.
Sir Francis Galton was an anthropologist and inventor amongst many other things. His work was aimed at determining the intelligence of his patients. In fact, people often paid Galton to have him measure their intellect via "mental tests" -- something that was held in great esteem during the late nineteenth century.
In order to measure one's intelligence, Galton measured the strength of a person's grip, along with their height and weight. While Galton's findings were not accurate, they were, indeed, advanced for his time. Later, many psychologists, and scientists, investigated Galton's work extensively. These researchers found that while his experiments were not accurate, his insight into the human mind was immensely important.
Today, there are many different types of cognitive tests that are in frequent use. Amongst many others, common intelligence tests include the Miller Analogies test, the Kohl Block test, and the Stanford-Binet test. Cognitive development tests can include the multiple choice test and the Knox Block test amongst others.
In fact, there are hundreds of cognitive tests that test everything from memory to self assessment. Typically, these tests are performed by psychologists and psychiatrists that wish to determine a patient's mental abilities. Modern cognitive tests are presently being used to predict medical ailments that may affect a person's brain at a later date.
It is believed that some cognitive tests can determine whether or not a person will confront multiple sclerosis later in life. In addition, these tests can help medical doctors determine whether or not a person is battling Alzheimer's disease. In short, even though testing one's cognition originated as a way to determine intelligence, these tests can now detect certain illnesses.
Clearly, cognitive testing has come a long way from its beginnings. While no longer referred to as "mental tests," these tests are still vastly important. As more and more tests are developed, researchers are starting to find ways to take a deeper look into the psychology of the brain. While seemingly simple, cognitive tests reveal a lot more than Sir Francis Galton ever gave them credit for.