The Welsh School of Security Studies, through its critical approach, has transformed human security into a central theme of contemporary security discourse. However, the emergence of cognitive warfare as an organized intervention in the perceptual and behavioral processes of societies exposes threat dimensions largely overlooked in classical interpretations of human security. This study, by revisiting the theoretical foundations of the Welsh School, offers a renewed articulation of human security where cognitive warfare is viewed not merely as a threat but as a key element in redefining the contemporary security environment. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative explanatory approach with an abductive strategy to refine the conceptualization of human security within the Welsh framework. The findings show that, despite emphasizing human dimensions of security, the classical model faces a conceptual gap in identifying and analyzing threats from cognitive warfare. This gap arises from its focus on physical and structural threats and neglect of deeper levels of perceptual and identity engineering among actors. Integrating “cognitive security” and “perceptual threat management” as core elements in redefining human security addresses this shortcoming and opens new horizons for advancing critical theorization in security studies. This reconceptualization enhances the Welsh School’s ability to explain security dynamics in the era of advanced technologies and strengthens its policy relevance in confronting complex and hybrid threats.