Cognition

Cognition is the set of all mental abilities and processes related to knowledge, including attention, memory and working memory, judgment and evaluation, reasoning and "computation," problem-solving and decision making, comprehension and production of language, and more complex constructs often termed as intelligence^[1]. It encompasses how we acquire, process, store, and use information^[2].

Cognition involves a range of mental phenomena, including:

• Perception: Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli, primarily including sight and sound^[3].

• Attention: The ability to focus cognitive resources on a specific stimulus or task, often filtering out other stimuli^[4].

• Memory: The storage and retrieval of information, which can include factual knowledge, personal experiences (episodic memory), skills (procedural memory), and our general understanding of concepts and how they relate to each other (semantic memory)^[5].

• Executive functions: Higher-order cognitive processes that regulate, control, and manage other cognitive processes, such as planning, problem-solving, working memory, and cognitive flexibility^[6].

• Language: The comprehension and generation of spoken, written, and nonverbal communication^[7].

• Thought: The process of considering information, which can include reasoning, decision making, and problem solving^[8].

From a neuroscience perspective, cognitive processes are the result of complex interactions between different regions of the brain^[9]. These interactions are mediated by neural networks and pathways that transmit and process information^[10]. The ability of the brain to adapt and form new connections, known as neuroplasticity, also plays a crucial role in cognition^[11].